Senior NPI Quality Engineer | Lead New Product Quality

Illuminate USA; Pataskala (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Illuminate USA in Columbus, Ohio, seeks an experienced Senior NPI Quality Engineer to lead quality efforts during new product introductions at our 1.1 million‑square‑foot factory. You will drive CTQ/MR strategies, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and ensure products and materials meet performance standards and customer requirements.

In this fast-paced environment, you will manage PFMEA/DFMEA, track KPIs such as yield and first pass rate, support pilot runs and ramp-ups, and continuously

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical) or Science.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant industry experience, with at least 3 years in quality engineering or project development.
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing, solar/semiconductor/electronics/automotive preferred.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Proficiency with PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, and root-cause analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality planning and execution during the NPI phase to ensure new products and materials meet defined performance standards and customer satisfaction goals.
• Plan and implement QFD activities, including identifying deliverables, engaging cross-functional stakeholders, and converting customer requirements (WHATs) into technical solutions (HOWs).
• Identify Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) parameters and key process factors based on quality standards, recurring issues (IPM, PSI), customer complaints, and PFMEA analysis.
• Develop and execute CTQ action plans across departments, with a strong focus on: Consistent and complete implementation Measurable impact on key quality KPIs (e.g., Grade A yield, First Pass Rate) Trainings of relevant personnel Replication across all production lines and shifts Ongoing validation of quality improvements
• Collaborate with Process Engineering, Quality & Reliability, Operations Planning, and CQE (Customer Quality Engineering) teams to ensure alignment and shared understanding of product requirements.
• Partner with Process Engineering to analyze new product and material designs, supporting documentation setup or revision as necessary.
• Define the NPI quality maturity matrix, establish release criteria, and manage milestones reviews.
• Track and manage project quality metrics, timelines, and deliverables throughout the NPI lifecycle.
• Provide hands‑on support during pilot runs and production ramp‑up, coordinating 2TP test runs and addressing quality concerns.
• Participate in technical review meetings to address deviations from quality requirements.
• Lead cross‑functional continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, production yield, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Quality Manager.

Skills

Quality engineering

Project management

Cross-functional communication

Problem-solving

Statistical analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science

Tools

JMP

Minitab

MS Office

Job description

Illuminate USA in Columbus, Ohio, seeks an experienced Senior NPI Quality Engineer to lead quality efforts during new product introductions at our 1.1 million‑square‑foot factory. You will drive CTQ/MR strategies, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and ensure products and materials meet performance standards and customer requirements.

In this fast-paced environment, you will manage PFMEA/DFMEA, track KPIs such as yield and first pass rate, support pilot runs and ramp-ups, and continuously