Senior Quality Engineer

Picarro; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Job summary

Picarro is seeking a Senior Quality Engineer in Santa Clara, CA, to sustain ISO 9001:2015-certified Quality Management System while driving product quality and process performance improvements. This role requires collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain and offers an opportunity to influence quality strategies in a high-technology environment.

The ideal candidate will have a background in Mechanical, Optical, or related Engineering with at least 5 years of experience in quality assurance or systems. Benefits include comprehensive insurance, 401(k), and health programs, alongside a competitive salary range of $140,000 to $150,000.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality engineering or quality systems experience in a regulated environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and internal auditing.

Responsibilities

• Own and improve ISO 9001-compliant processes.
• Coordinate internal audits and nonconformance management.
• Lead corrective action initiatives and partner cross-functionally.

Skills

Quality Engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Problem-Solving Tools

Internal Audit Practices

Supplier Quality

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Job Title

Senior Quality Engineer

Job Location

Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)

Job Term

Full-Time

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Senior Quality Engineer to play a critical role in sustaining Picarro’s ISO 9001:2015-certified Quality Management System while driving measurable improvements in product quality, process performance, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. This role is ideal for a hands‑on quality professional who enjoys developing, implementing, and improving cross‑functional processes that enable operational excellence in a high‑technology manufacturing environment. Reporting to the Senior Director of Quality, the Senior Quality Engineer will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Service and other business functions to strengthen Picarro’s global Quality Management System and support continued business growth through disciplined execution, data‑driven problem‑solving, and continual improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Own, support, and continually improve ISO 9001:2015‑compliant processes required to sustain Picarro’s third‑party Quality Management System certification.
• Coordinate and participate in core QMS activities, including internal audits, external audit preparation, nonconformance management, CAPA, 8D investigations, and management review support.
• Lead corrective action and continual improvement initiatives by partnering cross‑functionally to identify root causes, implement effective countermeasures, and verify sustained effectiveness.
• Monitor, measure, and analyze process performance, quality trends, customer returns, field issues, and nonconformance data to identify risks and drive data‑based improvement actions.
• Create, revise, and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, forms, and records to ensure compliance, usability, accuracy, and traceability.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Service, suppliers, and other stakeholders to improve customer returns, manufacturing quality, supplier quality, incoming quality performance, and overall process capability.
• Support product and process risk management activities, including FMEA, control plans, risk assessments, and change evaluations.
• Learn Picarro’s technology, products, manufacturing processes, and customer applications to provide practical quality engineering support and drive meaningful improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of related quality engineering, quality assurance, or quality systems experience in a regulated, high‑technology product manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency applying quality and problem‑solving tools, including Lean Manufacturing, process auditing, dFMEA/pFMEA, Control plan, Measurement System Analysis, Gage R&R, root cause analysis, Ishikawa diagrams, 5‑Whys, 8D, and risk assessments.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 requirements, internal audit practices, corrective action systems, document control, and quality records management.
• Hands‑on experience supporting supplier quality activities, including supplier qualification, supplier audits, supplier corrective action requests, incoming inspection, supplier performance monitoring, and supplier‑related nonconformance resolution.
• Proficiency with business and quality systems/tools such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access, Visio, MS Project, Tableau or Power BI, Arena, NetSuite, or equivalent platforms.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational discipline, communication skills, and problem‑solving capability in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and drive actions to closure with a sense of urgency.
• Experience with CE marking, Directive (EU) 2015/863 (RoHS 3), WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU, REACH, CSA, or similar product compliance requirements is preferred.

Preferred Additional Qualifications

• Experience applying advanced improvement methods such as Six Sigma, DFSS, DMAIC, Statistical Process Control, process mapping, activity value analysis, SIPOC, process capability analysis, and Design of Experiments.
• Experience with spectroscopy, laser‑based optical instruments, mass spectrometry, trace gas analyzers, capital equipment, or similar high‑precision technology platforms.
• ASQ certification, such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Six Sigma Green Belt, or Six Sigma Black Belt is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range: $140,000 to $150,000. Total compensation includes base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Salary and title will be determined based on location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and market benchmarks.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
• Life, Short‑Term Disability, and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• 401(k)
• Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
• On‑site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu shots, etc.)

About Picarro

We are the world’s leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring‑down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third‑party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.

At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at [e-mail] for assistance.