Quality Engineering Senior Associate

Pantex Plant; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pantex Quality Engineering is seeking a senior associate to lead quality assurance activities for materials, tooling, testers, and production processes at Amarillo, TX. The role emphasizes applying GD&T, statistical methods, and NQA-1 compliance to ensure precision and reliability across the nuclear enterprise.

The position collaborates with Production, Engineering, and Product Realization Teams, integrating inspection plans, VBA tooling improvements, and Visio diagrams to support efficient

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with at least 2 years of relevant experience or 1 year with Master's degrees.
• DOE O 426.2A experience or education alignment preferred.
• Experience with quality/process improvement methods and statistical metrics.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and maintain activities related to quality standards for materials, tooling, testers, measurement systems, and production processes.
• Develop and implement inspection, testing, and evaluation methods for tooling, testers, and equipment.
• Establish programs to evaluate precision, accuracy, repeatability, and process capability using statistics.
• Ensure DOE/NNSA quality requirements across Quality Engineering activities.
• Provide technical assistance to Production, Engineering, and other teams to support mission delivery.
• Review disposition documents and ensure requirements accuracy.
• Interface with customers to align with requirements and schedules.
• Review tooling work orders for compliance with drawings and docs.
• Lead or participate in assessments, inspections, surveillances, and engineering evaluations.
• Develop scope, schedules, and estimates; ensure timely, on-budget delivery.
• Complete required training and maintain compliance with program requirements.

Skills

Quality Engineering

NQA-1

GD&T

Statistical methods

Inspection plans

DOE O 426.2A

MS Office

VBA

Visio

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Visio

MS Excel

MS Office

VBA

Job description

Location: Amarillo, TX

Job Title: Quality Engineering Senior Associate

Career Level From: Senior Associate

Career Level To: Senior Specialist

Organization: Pantex Quality Engineering (51191783)

Job Specialty: Quality Engineering

What You'll Do

• Plan, direct, and maintain activities related to developing, applying, and maintaining quality standards for materials, tooling, testers, measurement systems, and production processes.
• Develop and implement inspection, testing, and evaluation methods for special tooling, electrical testers, production equipment, and analytical facilities.
• Establish programs to evaluate precision, accuracy, repeatability, and process capability using statistical methods.
• Ensure implementation of National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)/Department of Energy (DOE) quality requirements, including NAP‑401.1A and NQA‑1, across Quality Engineering activities.
• Provide technical assistance to Production, Engineering, Process Engineering, Product Realization Teams, and Nuclear Enterprise Assurance to support mission delivery.
• Review disposition documents, routing changes, procedures, and technical updates for requirements accuracy.
• Interface with internal and external customers to ensure alignment with requirements, schedules, and expectations.
• Review tooling work orders for compliance with drawings and supporting documentation.
• Lead or participate in assessments, inspections, surveillances, and engineering evaluations.
• Assist in developing scope, schedules, and estimates, ensuring deliverables are completed on time and within budget.
• Complete required training and maintain compliance with organizational and program requirements.

Tooling Responsibilities

• Apply knowledge of Gemotric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), machining processes, and welding practices.
• Create test plans and inspection plans derived from tooling drawings and specification requirements.
• Use Microsoft Visio for tooling workflows, diagrams, and inspection documentation.

Tester Responsibilities

• Apply knowledge of wiring, electrical systems, electronic components, and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection.
• Interpret engineering documentation and inspection requirements for acceptance testers and electrical test equipment.
• Collaborate with inspection technicians and design engineers to support troubleshooting and requirement interpretation.
• Use Visual Basics for Applications (VBA) programming for automated tools, data processing, or process improvement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).
• Proficient in Adobe Acrobat for controlled document review.
• Proficient in Microsoft Visio for process and inspection diagrams.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree: Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• Master's degree: Minimum 1 year of relevant experience.
• OR Applicants without a bachelor's degree may be considered based on a combination of at least 10 years of completed education and/or relevant experience.

Department of Energy (DOE) Order 426.2A Requirements

• In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must also meet the requirements of DOE O 426.2A (i.e., Baccalaureate in engineering or related science, 2 years job-related and at least 1 year nuclear experience, or a DOE O 426.2A alternative). DOE O 426.2A experience requirements can be satisfied following employment. In the interim, newly hired personnel will not be assigned duties that could impact the safety basis of nuclear facilities. (Ref. DOE O 426.2A)

Preferred Job Requirements

• High standards, excellent observation skills, strong written and oral communication, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and SharePoint.
• Must meet DOE O 426.2 requirements (job‑related + nuclear experience; nuclear experience may be acquired post‑hire before starting safety‑basis duties).
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience in quality/process improvement methods, statistical analysis/metrics, engineering standards, measuring and test equipment, basic chemistry, and software Quality Assurance (QA) programs.
• Formal training/experience in NAP‑401.1A, NQA‑1, ISO‑9000, or similar quality standards.
• Experience conducting assessments, audits, and engineering design/procurement document reviews.
• Knowledge of DOE Orders and NNSA quality requirements.
• Tooling & tester‑specific experience (GD&T, machining, welding, electrical systems, ESD protection, VBA, Visio).

#JointheMission: Your Impact Starts Here

At Pantex, you won't just find a job—you’ll discover a career of purpose safeguarding national security through work performed nowhere else on Earth. We empower dedicated, innovative individuals like you to achieve their greatest impact surrounded by exceptional talent and limitless opportunities for professional growth.

When you #JointheMission, you choose a lifetime career where your commitment is genuinely valued and rewarded. At Pantex, we believe that extraordinary talent thrives when supported by a balanced life. Discover the flexibility that empowers you to excel, coupled with a benefits package designed for your total peace of mind from comprehensive health coverage and robust retirement planning, to opportunities for continuous learning through education reimbursement.

Notes

The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.

If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.

Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.

Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP). If HRP is required, candidate must complete a counterintelligence-scope polygraph, pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 709. Medical requirements may apply.

Pantex is a drug‑free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to random selection for drug testing without advance notification.

Pantex is an equal opportunity employer, and does not tolerate discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law. Such terms and conditions of employment include, but are not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. Pantex takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans; including disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active‑dut wartime, or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.