Quality Engineer

Key Responsibilities

- Own incoming inspection, in-process, and final quality for assigned commodities, sub-assemblies, and finished product

- Partner with the supply chain team to qualify new suppliers — on-site audits, first-article inspections (FAI), PPAP-style submissions, and process capability reviews

- Develop inspection plans, control plans, and acceptance criteria for purchased parts and in-house manufactured components

- Lead root-cause investigations (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa) on supplier defects and internal manufacturing non-conformances; drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to closure

- Manage the non-conformance (NCR) and supplier corrective action request (SCAR) processes end-to-end

- Partner with design engineering on DFM/DFA reviews and help translate design intent into manufacturable, inspectable specifications (GD&T, critical-to-quality features)

- Track and report quality metrics — PPM, first-pass yield, cost of poor quality, supplier scorecards — and use them to drive improvement

- Support new product introduction (NPI) from prototype through production ramp, including process validation and pilot builds

- Build and maintain quality documentation: inspection procedures, work instructions, quality records, and calibration programs

- Help stand up and evolve Exowatt's quality management system (QMS) — we're early enough that you'll shape it, not just operate inside it

- Travel to supplier facilities domestically and occasionally internationally (~20%)

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or a related engineering field

- 4+ years of quality engineering experience in a hardware manufacturing environment

- Hands-on experience with supplier quality — audits, FAI, PPAP, SCARs, and supplier development

- Strong working knowledge of root-cause methodologies (8D, 5-Why, fishbone) and statistical tools (SPC, Cpk, DOE basics)

- Fluency with GD&T and the ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings

- Experience with metrology and inspection tools (CMM, calipers, micrometers, optical comparators, etc.)

- Familiarity with ISO 9001 and the fundamentals of building or operating a QMS

- Clear technical writing and the ability to communicate findings to suppliers, engineers, and leadership

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in energy, aerospace, automotive, industrial equipment, or other regulated/high-reliability hardware industries

- Exposure to welded or brazed assemblies, pressure vessels, high-temperature materials, or thermal systems

- ASQ certification (CQE, CQA, or CSSBB)

- Experience standing up a QMS at an early-stage company, or taking one from ISO 9001 toward AS9100, ISO 14001, or similar

- Six Sigma Green or Black Belt

- Experience with ERP/MES/QMS platforms (NetSuite, Arena, Propel, or similar)