Senior Quality Engineer

About the Role

The Senior Quality Engineer serves as a key quality leader supporting both New Product Development (NPD) and Sustaining Quality initiatives for Watlow's standard and custom controller product lines. This role partners closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and customers to ensure products and processes consistently meet quality, reliability, and customer expectations. Based at Watlow's Electronics and Communications Center of Excellence in Winona, Minnesota, this position drives continuous improvement through advanced quality methodologies, leads root cause investigations, supports new product launches, and serves as the primary quality representative for key customer engagements. The Senior Quality Engineer also mentors technicians and developing engineers while helping build a culture of quality throughout the organization.

Key Contributions

• Leads quality activities supporting New Product Development and sustaining engineering initiatives.
• Serves as the quality representative on cross-functional product development and manufacturing teams.
• Leads and facilitates 8D, CAPA, and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.
• Partners with internal and external customers to resolve quality issues and improve customer satisfaction.
• Drives product and process improvements through APQP methodologies.
• Supports product transfers to domestic and international manufacturing locations.
• Identifies opportunities to reduce defects, scrap, rework, and cost of poor quality.
• Utilizes quality metrics and customer scorecards to drive continuous improvement.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to technicians and less experienced engineers.
• Collaborates across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Represents Watlow during customer meetings, audits, and quality reviews.
• Applies Watlow Business System (WBS) principles and demonstrates Watlow Leader Behaviors.

Quality Leadership

• Lead 8D, CAPA, and RCCA investigations.
• Drive customer scorecard improvements.
• Implement preventive actions to improve quality.
• Utilize statistical analysis and quality tools.

New Product Development

• Support APQP activities.
• Partner with Engineering on quality requirements.
• Support design verification, validation, and manufacturing readiness.
• Assist in qualification of suppliers, processes, and outsourced assemblies.

Manufacturing & Process Improvement

• Lead defect, scrap, and rework reduction initiatives.
• Support Lean and WBS continuous improvement activities.
• Improve manufacturing processes through data-driven analysis.
• Support product transfers while maintaining quality.

Customer & Supplier Support

• Serve as the primary customer-facing quality representative.
• Present quality data and corrective actions.
• Support customer audits and issue resolution.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships.

Leadership & Development

• Mentor technicians and junior engineers.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects.
• Influence through technical expertise.
• Promote continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or other technical discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Engineering or Quality Engineering.
• Proven experience leading 8D and/or CAPA processes.
• Strong root cause analysis and structured problem-solving experience.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (typically 3–5 weeks annually).

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading cross-functional projects and presenting to customers and leadership.
• Experience in electronics and/or printed circuit board manufacturing.
• Knowledge of APQP methodologies.
• Experience supporting new product introductions and manufacturing transfers.
• Leadership potential and desire to grow into a leadership role.
• Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Proficiency with quality tools including 8D, CAPA, FMEA, SPC, and statistical analysis.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement