Quality Engineer III

About the role

The Quality Engineer designs, installs, and evaluates Quality Assurance (QA) process sampling systems, procedures, and statistical techniques. They also design or specify inspection and testing mechanisms and equipment. The role involves analyzing production and service limitations and standards, monitoring manufacturing process, fabrication, inspection, test and shipping activities, recommending revisions to specifications, formulating or helping formulate QA policies and procedures, conducting training on QA concepts and tools, interfacing with other engineering functions, and addressing quality-related issues with customers and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Assists with an analysis of routine contract requirements to determine what quality characteristics are to be controlled; manufacturing, inspection, test equipment required; special controls of special processes; and special skills needed to ensure their proper application.
• Validates SPC limits and controls.
• Audits process to ensure proper use and corrective action when out-of-control limit is reached.
• Reviews the contract data item descriptions and requirements and assists with establishing the necessary controls to ensure compliance.
• Creates control plans that align to customer, product, regulatory and sector requirements.
• Participates in pilot runs and preproduction runs; Assist with a basic analysis of results.
• Reviews production and manufacturing specification processes to ensure conformance to drawings specifications and contract requirements.
• Assists in inspection and testing of preproduction equipment to ensure compliance with drawings, specifications and contract requirements, prior to submittal, for customer acceptance.
• Performs, when applicable, measurement capability and correlation studies to ensure continual adequacy and capability.
• Makes sure to monitor special test programs on assemblies, components, special processes, etc. due to design changes and/or problems developing during the manufacturing cycle.
• Assists in inspection and testing of preproduction equipment to ensure compliance with drawings, specifications and contract requirements, prior to submittal, for customer acceptance.
• Prepares summaries and analysis of evaluations, together with all pertinent charts, graphs, etc., under guidance of more senior engineers.
• Ensures that records/files are initiated and maintained in all relevant documentation pertaining to Quality Assurance.
• Performs Quality Audits to determine the effectiveness of the Quality Program and prepare audit reports.
• Participates in the verification (First Article Configuration Inspection) of hardware versus drawing/specifications.
• Prepares reports and corrective action documentation, under review of more senior engineers, in answer to Customer inquiries or complaints regarding inspection, test and production activities.
• Drives corrective, preventive and closure actions for project issues related to quality and/or test nonconformance.
• Develops and improve the site’s quality organization’s ability to perform complex problem solving to more effectively address customer complaints, service deviations and internal corrective actions.
• Writes verification and validation documentation and conduct required testing as needed.
• Assists in driving the standardization of manufacturing processes of global customer accounts.
• Other information: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, effective interpersonal skills, effective multitasking skills and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as required, effective organization and prioritization skills, demonstrate high attention to detail, ability to work with diverse groups, demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism, ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance, exercising discretion and independent judgment, understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools, strong customer service and client focus, working knowledge of productivity tools, including Microsoft Office products and WebEx conferencing software, 4 year Engineering or Technical degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by executive management, proven ability to complete projects in a timely manner, ability to support a 24/7 global business operation as required, understanding of and ability to use metrics and continuous improvement tools (e.g. Defect per Million Opportunities (DPMO), First Pass Yield (FPY), Defects per Million (DPM), Six Sigma, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), etc), demonstrates knowledge of domestic and international requirements, standards and regulations such as Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Quality System Regulation (QSR) Part 820, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), International Automotive Task Force (IATF), etc, supports internal, corporate, notified body, FDA, customer and other audits.

Requirements

4 year Engineering or Technical degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by executive management

Proven ability to complete projects in a timely manner

Ability to support a 24/7 global business operation as required

Understanding of and ability to use metrics and continuous improvement tools (e.g. Defect per Million Opportunities (DPMO), First Pass Yield (FPY), Defects per Million (DPM), Six Sigma, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), etc)

Demonstrates knowledge of domestic and international requirements, standards and regulations such as Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Quality System Regulation (QSR) Part 820, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), International Automotive Task Force (IATF), etc

Supports internal, corporate, notified body, FDA, customer and other audits

8+ years of electronics manufacturing experience; 1+ years in a leadership role

Ability to lead strategic quality initiatives

Accredited certification (CQE)

Master of advanced technologies and applications

Able to travel up to 20% of the time, including day and overnight as required

Perform a comprehensive analysis of complex contract requirements to determine what quality characteristics are to be controlled; Manufacturing, Inspection, Test Equipment required; special controls for unique processes, special skills needed and the insurance of their proper application

Participate in initiating and planning pilot runs and pre-production runs; Analyze results and furnish recommendations

Establish and maintain control over all complex production processes and testing during the product cycle

Review complex production and manufacturing specification process to ensure compliance with drawings, specifications and contract requirements

Plan and participate in design reviews to ensure that designs permit and facilitate productivity, repeatability and inspectability and that related quality considerations are obtained in order to ensure product quality

Plan and determine capability of manufacturing processes to meet quality requirements

Recommend adjustments for process condition to Methods Department and/or adjustments of production specifications to Production Engineering to create an economical and compatible relationship between production processes and the products

Plan and provide technical assistance to resolve complex fabrication, test and inspection problems, as required

Establish process controls, surveillance and monitoring procedures to ensure product quality

Analyze reported defects and failures and initiate corrective action

Participate in the timely investigations, disposition and corrective actions to prevent recurrence of non-conforming materials, processes and products; Follow up for completion and measurement of effectiveness

Plan and participate in Engineering evaluations and Change Control Board to ensure design and changes proposed are within the scope of company and contract definitions and requirements; Coordinate submittal with the customer

Review test reports and failure analysis reports for acceptability; Ensure corrective action

Participate in Material Review Board actions and initiate appropriate corrective actions

Prepare and/or approve corrective action reports and documentation in response to customer inquiries or complaints regarding inspection, test and production activities

Plan and participate in the verification (First Article Configuration Inspection) of hardware versus drawing/specifications and coordinate this effort with customer personnel

Prepare summaries and analysis of internal assembly and test data, as well as external data, supplied by customer

Mentor and provide leadership to engineers, technicians and inspectors

Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge by keeping abreast of techniques and methods by way of contact with other industries, current publications and advanced education and membership in professional societies/organizations

Qualifications

Education: 4 year degree or Technical degree preferred

Geographical Location: Minnesota:Rochester

Physical Location: Rochester, MN

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1700

Full Time

In our innovative environment, you'll work with cutting-edge technology, leading the way in engineering design and delivering world-class manufacturing services for products that make a real difference in the lives of others.

Benefits and Other Compensation

Benchmark provides a comprehensive benefits package, including a Bonus Plan, 401(k), Paid Time Off, and Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, all based on scheduled hours.

Benchmark complies with applicable state and local employee leave laws.

Application Deadline

This job posting will remain open until filled.