Quality Engineer

About the role

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We work onsite 4+ days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

Responsibilities

The Quality Engineer monitors consumer and customer feedback—including complaints, revenue returns, and warranty data—to identify negative trends and top issues, reporting findings to the broader organization. Leads the structured problem-solving (CAPA) process for issues identified through this feedback, driving problem statement definition, root cause analysis, and verification of effectiveness in partnership with Product Development and Sustaining Engineering.

• Provides technical guidance to Engineering and other internal stakeholders based on trends identified from consumer complaints, warranty claims, and revenue returns data
• Leads quality-related problem-solving and root cause analysis through the CAPA process for issues identified via post-market surveillance
• Follows established CAPA methodology and operational policies in selecting methods and techniques for problem statement definition, root cause analysis, and verification of effectiveness
• Ensures appropriate corrective action plans are developed, implemented, and tracked to closure
• Develops and administers project plans and schedules for CAPA and continuous improvement initiatives
• Serves as a liaison between Product Development/Sustaining Engineering and management to communicate quality trends and drive resolution of field issues
• Performs quality engineering tasks in a timely fashion, including:
  • Monitoring and trending consumer complaints, revenue returns, and warranty data
  • Reviewing test and other performance data to support root cause investigations
  • Analyzing market feedback to identify emerging issues and negative trends
• Performs independent technical assessment of product quality performance and post-market product quality analysis
• Supports the translation of post-market findings into quality control objectives and design improvements
• Supports risk management activities, including product failure rate and reliability estimations based on field and warranty data
• Presents complaint, warranty, and CAPA status data to the broader organization
• Supports training to other quality staff on post-market surveillance principles, CAPA methodology, and root cause analysis techniques
• Maintains documentation for CAPA records, complaint investigations, and post-market surveillance activities
• Performs additional responsibilities as required

Requirements

• BA/BS in a scientific discipline and/or equivalent years of experience
• 3+ years of Quality Engineering experience, preferably in Post Market Feedback, Consumer Complaints, or Warranty with consumer electromechanical products
• Experience with risk management documentation such as Failure Mode Effect Analysis (Design, Process, Use/Misuse), Hazard Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis
• Experience conducting Structured Problem Solving along with Root Cause Analysis. Ideally having familiarity with tools such as 8-Discipline, DMAIC, 5-Why, Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, Contradiction Matrices
• Experience with the creation and execution of testing plans (DVP&R, Trace Matrix)
• Familiarity with Measurement System Analysis or Test Method Validation
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)

Skills

• Experience with AIAG Core Tools, especially MSA, PPAP and PFMEA (nice to have)
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer or Certified Reliability Engineer (nice to have)
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Certification (nice to have)
• Previous experience in plastic injection molding and printed circuit board manufacturing (nice to have)
• Not required to have pets, but highly recommended!

Benefits

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras.

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance Discount
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program