Quality Engineer

DIVERGENT; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

Divergent is seeking a Quality Engineer to lead quality control initiatives across high-precision manufacturing. You will drive process improvements, reduce defects, and implement robust inspection controls while aligning with customer requirements and industry best practices.

You will manage nonconformances, perform root-cause analyses, and develop data-driven dashboards. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and proactive quality leadership are essential in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality initiatives focused on process improvement, defect reduction, and inspection optimization in manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with PPAP, FMEA, and RCA to resolve quality issues and improve processes.
• Knowledge of CMM programming, Gage R&R, and sampling techniques, with a focus on effectiveness and efficiency.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data, identify trends, and drive data-informed decisions.
• Experience collaborating with customers and suppliers to meet quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement and defect-reduction initiatives, analyzing data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Optimize inspection strategies and establish acceptance criteria to improve first-pass yield.
• Serve as quality liaison with customers, managing audits and driving timely issue resolution.
• Oversee nonconformance handling, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions (MRB).
• Develop dashboards and reports to provide real-time quality visibility to stakeholders.
• Support quality planning and deployment, including new process validation and inspection tech adoption.
• Mentor teams and lead cross-functional problem-solving initiatives.

Skills

Quality initiatives

Process improvement

Defect reduction

Inspection optimization

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PPAP

FMEA

RCA

CMM programming

Gage R&R

Job description

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

We are seeking a Quality Engineer to join our growing team. This role will play a critical part in ensuring the quality and reliability of our products and processes, working closely with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for high-precision manufacturing. As a Quality Engineer, you will lead quality control initiatives, implement continuous improvement processes, and help drive the highest standards in production to meet customer and industry expectations.

The Role

• Process Improvement and Defect Reduction
  • Lead initiatives to improve process efficiency and reduce defects by analyzing quality and production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
  • Implement robust process controls and standardize inspection procedures to enhance consistency, prevent recurring quality issues, and improve first-pass yield.
• Inspection Effectiveness and Quality Controls
  • Optimize inspection strategies by leveraging advanced tools and techniques, including CMM programming, to balance precision with efficiency.
  • Establish and maintain inspection criteria and acceptance standards aligned with customer requirements and industry best practices.
  • Ensure inspection methods meet capability requirements through studies like Gage R&R and Cpk analyses.
• Customer Engagement and Quality Deliverables
  • Quality liaison for customers, managing audits, addressing quality concerns, and ensuring timely resolution of issues.
  • Prepare and deliver required quality documentation, including PPAP, FAIR, and other customer-specific deliverables, while facilitating customer reviews and audits.
  • Collaborate with customers to clarify quality requirements and maintain alignment on deliverables and expectations.
• Nonconformance and Corrective Actions
  • Manage nonconformance activities, including root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and Material Review Board (MRB) processes.
  • Track and analyze nonconformance trends to drive targeted quality improvements and reduce defect recurrence.
• Data Analysis and Reporting
  • Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), such as yield, defect rates, and on-time delivery, to identify improvement areas.
  • Develop dashboards and reports to provide real-time visibility into quality performance and share actionable insights with stakeholders.
• Quality Planning and Deployment
  • Develop and implement scalable quality control plans and deploy new inspection technologies to align with company objectives and customer expectations.
  • Support process validation for new or modified manufacturing processes, ensuring readiness and compliance.
• Cross-functional Collaboration and Leadership
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate quality requirements into product and process development and support new product introductions (NPI).
  • Mentor quality team members on best practices for inspection, data analysis, and process control while driving cross-functional problem-solving initiatives.
  • Perform any other support functions as directed by Quality Management

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
• Demonstrated experience in quality initiatives focused on process improvement, defect reduction, and inspection optimization in manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency in implementing and managing tools such as PPAP, FMEA, and root cause analysis (RCA) to resolve quality issues and improve processes.
• Knowledge of advanced inspection methods and tools, including CMM programming, Gage R&R, and sampling techniques, with a focus on effectiveness and efficiency.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and drive data-informed decisions to improve yield and reduce defects.
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers to ensure quality standards and customer expectations are met.
• Clear communication and documentation skills to effectively present quality metrics, deliverables, and insights to stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or related field) or equivalent experience in a quality-focused role.
• Experience in regulated industries such as automotive, aerospace, or defense with familiarity in standards like AS9100, ISO 9001, or IATF 16949.
• Hands-on experience with Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation and customer engagement for quality deliverables.
• Experience in statistical process control (SPC) and process capability analysis (Cpk) for monitoring and improving production processes.
• Certification in Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher) or ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is a plus
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing or automated inspection systems is a plus.
• Onsite

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E04 - E05 as evaluated through our interview process.

Pay Range

$111,300 - $176,720 USD

What We Offer:

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected.

E-Verify: Right to Work

Our company participates in E-Verify . E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.

Eligibility to Work Poster (English) |Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)

Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.