Sr. Quality Engineer

About the role

As a Senior Quality Engineer within Novanta’s Robotics & Automation team, you will support the optical encoder product line, ensuring product quality, reliability, and continuous improvement across mechatronic and electronic systems. This role includes responsibility for incoming, in-process, final inspection, and test equipment calibration activities. You will partner with cross-functional teams and suppliers to investigate quality issues, implement corrective actions, and support new product development and sustaining engineering efforts. The position requires a customer-focused approach, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to manage multiple quality initiatives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Customer Quality Support
  • RMA investigations and communicate findings using structured methodologies (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys)
  • Drive corrective and preventive actions to address root cause and improve product performance
  • Participate in continuous improvement efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies
• Supplier Quality
  • Identify and communicate supplier quality issues and drive resolution in collaboration with the Supplier Quality team
  • Lead MRB activities and contribute to scrap reduction initiatives
  • Support supplier corrective actions and follow issues through to closure
  • Support PPAP deliverables internally and within the supply chain
• Quality Control
  • Develop and implement risk-based sampling plans aligned with product criticality and quality requirements
  • Support First Article Inspection (FAI) activities and maintain product qualification and validation records
  • Lead nonconforming product investigations and drive timely disposition of MRB material
  • Ensure effective containment, corrective actions, and closure of product quality issues
  • Lead scheduling and support of calibration and maintenance efforts of production test equipment
• New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality
  • Support part qualification activities internally and within the supply chain
  • Assist with transfer of products from engineering to production
  • Participate in design and process risk assessments (DFMEA/PFMEA), V&V and Reliability reporting
  • Provide support for product compliance and certification requirements
• Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving
  • Lead and facilitate root cause investigations into electronic component and PCBA failures, including field returns, internal rejects, and supplier defects
  • Perform detailed failure analysis of electronic PCBAs and assemblies
  • Apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, DMAIC, 5 Whys, Ishikawa (Fishbone)

Required Experience, Education, Skills, and Competencies

• 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing, or related technical environment
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
• Familiarity with quality control tools, inspection processes, and basic root cause analysis methods
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, technical manuals, and schematics
• Exposure to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 quality management systems preferred
• Bonus: Experience CMM programming and inspection methods
• Bonus: Audit experience with internal, customer and/or registrar audits for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485

Pay

The salary for this role will range from $115,000 to $130,000 annually based on full-time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, education, etc. Certain roles may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on the plan.