Quality Release Engineer: Kaizen Lead

Richardson Electronics, Ltd.; Illinois; On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is seeking a Quality Release Engineer to oversee new product and process releases, ensuring quality controls before production and during changes.

You will review changes to maintain alignment with quality requirements and risk controls. This role requires 5+ years in manufacturing or quality engineering, strong APQP knowledge including PFMEA and Control Plans, and attention to documentation, drawings, BOMs, and supplier qualifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline with 5+ years in manufacturing, process or quality engineering.
• Strong knowledge of APQP principles including PFMEA, Control Plans, process capability, measurement systems, risk assessment and product/process qualification.
• Experience with NPI, manufacturing process release, or production quality; CQE or Six Sigma credentials are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Schedule, coordinate, and lead Release Kaizen Events to stress test production readiness and establish documentation, tooling, and process controls.
• Provide independent Quality review and approval of new product and process releases, verifying that production can conform to released processes and documentation.
• Review PFMEAs, Control Plans, inspection sheets, and related quality documentation for adequacy and effectiveness.
• Review drawings, specifications, BOMs, routings, work instructions for quality impact and usability.
• Verify completion of validation activities (first-piece inspections, process capability, measurement and test requirements).
• Verify supplier readiness and incoming quality controls; escalate risks as needed.
• Document and close Release Kaizen findings and track corrective actions.
• Monitor post-release production performance and incorporate lessons learned into future releases.
• Exercise independent quality release authority and present open risks to management for conditional approvals.

Skills

APQP

PFMEA

Control Plans

Process capability

Measurement systems

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

ASQ CQE

Six Sigma

Job description

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is seeking a Quality Release Engineer to oversee new product and process releases, ensuring quality controls before production and during changes.

You will review changes to maintain alignment with quality requirements and risk controls. This role requires 5+ years in manufacturing or quality engineering, strong APQP knowledge including PFMEA and Control Plans, and attention to documentation, drawings, BOMs, and supplier qualifications.