Principal Manufacturing Quality Engineer

Responsibilities

- Lead manufacturing and process engineering, quality, reliability, and machining support; set priorities based on build readiness, technical risks, and recurring production issues.

- Drive DfX reviews of optical, electronic, and vacuum/mechanical hardware to improve assembly, alignment, inspection, and service access.

- Develop and qualify controlled optical cleaning, bonding, precision assembly, and electronic build/test methods with Engineering and the production teams.

- Design and qualify assembly, alignment, bonding, and inspection fixtures; direct machining and tooling support for approved manufacturing needs.

- Capture first-of-a-kind learning in work instructions and training, with controlled revisions and qualification of affected personnel before new methods enter production.

- Establish inspection, calibration, nonconformance, corrective-action, and release controls with the Manufacturing Quality Lead.

- Lead root-cause analysis of assembly defects, alignment rework, and test failures; use the findings to improve processes and maintainability.

- Demonstrate shorter build cycles through simpler assembly, better fixtures, and reduced rework; monitor process readiness, first-pass results, and corrective-action effectiveness.

Experience & Education

- BS in manufacturing, mechanical, optical, or electrical engineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant technical experience; advanced degree preferred.

- 10+ years in manufacturing or process engineering for precision optical, electromechanical, or scientific equipment, including 3+ years managing technical teams.

- Demonstrated experience taking engineering prototypes into repeat production through process qualification, fixture development, DfX, and controlled documentation.

- Experience overseeing quality and corrective-action activities; quantum-hardware, photonics, or atomic-instrument manufacturing experience preferred.

Qualifications

- Strong DfX judgment for precision optomechanical and electronic hardware, including tolerances, alignment sensitivity, contamination control, and service access.

- Working knowledge of optical bonding and alignment, vacuum/mechanical assembly, and electronic production methods.

- Experience qualifying manufacturing processes, fixtures, measurement methods, and operators for repeatable technical production.

- Knowledge of first-article inspection, calibration, nonconformance control, root-cause analysis, and effective corrective action.

- Ability to influence design decisions using build data and lead technical teams while keeping process ownership distinct from production execution.