Product Quality Engineer

nLIGHT; Camas (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Target Cash Bonus of 5%

Health benefits including dental and vision

401(k) with company match

Tuition Assistance Program

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

A leading laser technology company based in Camas, Washington, is seeking a Product Quality Engineer to manage customer quality and lead continuous process improvements. This role involves quality audits, non-conforming material management, and NPI support to enhance manufacturing practices. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and extensive experience in quality engineering. The organization offers competitive compensation, including benefits such as paid time off and health insurance.

Qualifications

• 5 years experience as a Quality Engineer, Product Engineer, or similar.
• 2 years experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work in a Class 10K clean room.

Responsibilities

• Implement Quality Plans and Inspection Plans for NPI programs.
• Manage customer product quality, feedback, and corrective actions.
• Support audits of products and manage Non-Conforming Material processes.
• Lead inline quality resolution and provide training for improvements.

Skills

Analytical data analysis skills

Project leadership

Clear communication skills

Ability to audit processes

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, Math, or Statistics

Tools

Quality management systems

8D

DFMEA

PFMEA

Job description

About nLIGHT

At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high‑power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

The Product Quality Engineer is responsible for leading resolution and improvements in customer quality, internal quality, and supplier quality. They ensure requirements are met, audits are supported, and issues resolved. The successful candidate will have a strong background in quality systems, leading continuous improvement activities, problem solving, and ensuring compliance with a quality management system.

Responsibilities

• Supports New Product Introduction (NPI) programs through implementation of Quality Plans, Purchase Part Inspection Plans, New Part Qualification, DFMEA, and PFMEA.
• Supports released production through updates to Quality Plans and quality improvement programs.
• Manages customer product quality with customer feedback, Corrective Actions, auditing, and reporting.
• Supports customer and regulatory audits of products.
• Manages Non‑Conforming Material (NCM) process with disposition, reporting, and leading Material Review Board (MRB).
• Supports inline quality resolution with containment, root cause, corrective and preventive actions. May lead some activities.
• Assists process owners with Measurement System Analysis (MSA/GRR) to ensure adequacy of data collection tools.
• Identifies improvements through Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Control Plans, and preventive actions (Poka Yoke).
• Provides problem solving leadership through the standard quality tools including 8D, Cause‑Effect, Run Charts, Pareto, and Check Sheets.
• Provides guidance and support to Quality Inspectors, creates incoming inspection plans, and verifies inspection failures as required.
• Adds flow down requirements to suppliers with Quality Assurance Provisions adds to Purchase Orders.
• Provides training to sustain improvement activities.

Qualifications

• 5 years experience working as a Quality Engineer, Product Engineer, Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, or Industrial Engineer.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, Math, or Statistics.
• 2 years experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work periodically in a Class 10K clean room environment.

Desired Skills

• Strong analytical data analysis skills.
• Ability to lead small to medium size projects with cross‑functional teams.
• Clear communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to audit internal processes for conformance to requirements.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit/stand/walk for 8 or more hours, as needed.
• Ability to work in both office and industrial environments, including clean rooms and labs.
• Ability to travel locally to various company locations, as needed.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as document review, testing, and data entry on computers.
• Ability to sit, stand, or walk during meetings, training, or conducting audits.
• Ability to walk through production areas or facility floors to oversee processes and conduct inspections.
• Ability to occasionally lift boxes of materials, test samples, or documents (up to 20 lbs).
• Ability to occasionally travel overnight for supplier audits, customer visits, or off‑site inspections, sometimes involving long drives or flights.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary level based on experience, education, and skills:

• Quality Engineer II: $85,000 – $95,000

Other Compensation and Benefits

• Target Cash Bonus of 5% of your wages
• Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants
• 3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year, increasing by 1 day each year up to 4 weeks
• 9 paid Holidays
• Eligible for health benefits on the 1st day of the month after your start date
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits, including prescription and orthodontia with employee‑paid premiums as low as $37.00 per pay period
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting
• Company‑paid Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance
• Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance

nLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, you must be a US Person (that is, a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status).

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 566‑4460 or [e-mail].

E‑Verify Participation

E‑Verify Participation:
nLIGHT participates in the E-Verify program. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

For more information, please review the following notices:

• E-Verify Participation Poster
• Right to Work Poster