Quality Engineer

Department: Quality

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Swagelok Northern California

Reporting To: Quality Assurance Manager

Compensation: $107,070 - $153,913 / year

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and continuously enhance the internal and supplier audit programs to assess process effectiveness, ensure compliance, identify risks, and drive operational improvement.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality system documentation, process descriptions, work instructions, and manufacturing procedures to support operational excellence and standardization.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, quality systems, and process controls to ensure conformance with organizational, customer, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure supplier compliance with customer-specific requirements, including documentation, certifications, traceability, and quality record submissions.
• Review engineering drawings, bills of materials, routings, specifications, and related documentation to verify accuracy, completeness, and compliance with customer and company requirements.

• Own and continuously improve the Nonconforming Product (NCP) and supplier Returned Material Authorization (RMA) processes to minimize quality escapes, reduce recurrence, and protect customer satisfaction.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action initiatives, ensuring systemic issues are identified, addressed, and prevented from recurring through sustainable process improvements.
• Investigate, document, and resolve quality-related issues, coordinating with internal teams and external partners as needed.
• Communicate the status of quality-related issues, corrective actions, and improvement activities to Production Control, Operations, and other stakeholders.
• Attend and actively participate in Quality, Material Review Board (MRB), and other cross-functional meetings to review quality performance, resolve issues, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality teams to proactively prevent nonconforming products from reaching customers through effective quality planning, risk mitigation, and process controls.
• Provide quality engineering support for new and existing products through first-piece approvals, First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR), and validation of manufacturing processes. 
• Participate in product and process design reviews to identify quality risks, improve manufacturability, and ensure customer requirements are adequately addressed.
• Provide technical guidance and support to Quality Technicians and inspection personnel to ensure consistent application of quality standards and inspection requirements.

• Monitor, analyze, and communicate supplier quality performance metrics, leading initiatives that improve supplier capability, reliability, and overall supply chain performance.
• Provide quality engineering support for new and existing products through first-piece approvals, First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR), and validation of manufacturing processes.
• Foster collaborative relationships across Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, Regulatory, and Quality functions to improve process performance and achieve quality objectives.

• Analyze quality, operational, and supplier performance data to identify trends, uncover improvement opportunities, and support data-driven decision making.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that reduce variation, eliminate waste, mitigate risk, and improve quality, delivery, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead or contribute to strategic quality initiatives, cross-functional projects, and other assignments that support organizational objectives and continuous improvement efforts.

Skills, Competencies, Education, & Work Experience

• Continuous Improvement Leadership. Leads initiatives that improve quality, reduce variation, eliminate waste, and enhance operational effectiveness through the application of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action. Applies structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and corrective action processes, to identify systemic issues and implement sustainable solutions.
• Quality Systems & Compliance. Demonstrates knowledge of quality management systems, auditing principles, document control practices, and regulatory or customer-specific requirements to ensure compliance and process effectiveness.
• Data Analysis & Decision Making. Utilizes statistical analysis, quality metrics, and performance data to identify trends, evaluate process capability, assess risk, and drive data-based decisions.
• Supplier Quality Management. Evaluates supplier performance, quality systems, and process controls while collaborating with suppliers to improve capability, compliance, and overall product quality.
• Technical & Engineering Interpretation. Reads, interprets, and critiques engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, process documentation, and quality requirements to ensure product and process conformance.
• Project & Process Management. Effectively manages multiple projects, corrective actions, audits, and improvement initiatives while balancing competing priorities and meeting established timelines.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence. Builds effective working relationships across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Quality functions to achieve quality objectives and drive organizational improvements.
• Effective Verbal and Written Communication. Communicates technical information, quality concerns, audit findings, corrective actions, and project updates clearly and professionally to internal and external stakeholders.
• Computer & Quality Systems Proficiency. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and quality-related systems, including ERP, document management, reporting, and statistical analysis tools.

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in an engineering or quality discipline
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment (or 2 years with a Master’s Degree in related discipline)

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• ASQ Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA)

Benefits

• 100% covered employee Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Up to 80% dependent coverage for Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• 401k Plan & Company Matching up to 4%
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Competitive Pay
• Generous PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Gym Membership Reimbursement up to $50/month
• Professional Coaching