As a Senior/Principal Quality Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical leader for manufacturing quality in a complex, precision manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for candidates with deep experience in industrial lasers, photonics, optics, semiconductor capital equipment, or other high-complexity electro-mechanical systems. You will partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Supplier Quality teams to drive product and process quality, support new product introduction and manufacturing transfers, resolve critical quality issues, and strengthen process capability across precision assembly and test operations. You will act as a key quality liaison for high-value, technically complex products and will help drive a culture of zero-defect quality, data-driven decision-making, and proactive risk management across the factory.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Quality Engineering activities for complex laser, optical, photonic, or precision electro-mechanical products, including subsystem assembly, integration, test, and manufacturing support.
- Provide technical leadership for NPI, qualification, validation, and manufacturing transfer activities to ensure production readiness and robust process control.
- Lead development and deployment of PFMEA, control plans, inspection strategies, and risk-based quality controls for complex assemblies and manufacturing processes.
- Drive implementation of process controls that mitigate risk, improve detection at the point of generation, and reduce variation in manufacturing and test operations.
- Lead structured problem-solving for critical internal, supplier, and customer quality issues using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, 5-Why, Fishbone, Fault Tree Analysis, and CAPA.
- Partner with Engineering and Operations to improve process capability, product quality, and manufacturing robustness using SPC, MSA/GR&R, DOE, and data analysis.
- Evaluate and improve manufacturing monitoring, inspection, and measurement systems to ensure they are both technically effective and statistically sound.
- Support and influence supplier quality resolution for components, materials, and subassemblies that affect product performance, manufacturability, or customer satisfaction.
- Review and strengthen quality documentation, process controls, and quality system practices in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and customer-specific requirements.
- Lead or support customer complaints, RMAs, audits, and corrective actions with a high level of ownership, urgency, and technical credibility.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing escapes, improving yield, increasing process repeatability, and supporting long-term product reliability.
- Serve as a technical mentor and escalation point for other quality engineers and cross-functional teams on complex manufacturing quality topics.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related technical field.
- 6+ years of progressive experience in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, Process Quality, or Product Quality in a complex manufacturing environment.
- Strong experience in precision manufacturing, preferably involving lasers, photonics, optics, semiconductor equipment, or precision electro-mechanical systems.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex quality investigations, cross-functional problem solving, and process improvement activities.
- Experience supporting NPI, process qualification, validation, and/or product or manufacturing transfer.
- Strong knowledge of core quality tools and methodologies such as PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA/GR&R, 8D, CAPA, DOE, and process audits.
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015, technical drawings, GD&T, and structured quality system practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related technical discipline.
- Experience in laser systems, optical assemblies, fiber optics, optoelectronics, electro-optical products, or advanced precision instrumentation.
- Experience supporting Tier-1 semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, imaging/diagnostics, or other high-reliability technology customers.
- Familiarity with cleanroom manufacturing, contamination control methods, metrology, interferometry, environmental qualification testing, or advanced inspection systems.
- ASQ certification such as CQE or CQA.
- Experience with product lifecycle management, transfer validation, and supplier quality development.
- Reliability engineering experience is highly desirable.
Skills and Competencies
- Deep technical problem-solving capability with the ability to lead resolution of complex, ambiguous quality issues.
- Strong command of quality methodologies including 8D, DMAIC, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, DOE, CAPA, and Root Cause Analysis.
- Ability to influence across functions and drive alignment with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
- Data-driven mindset with proficiency in tools such as Excel, Minitab, JMP, or Power BI.
- Ability to balance technical depth with practical execution in a fast-paced, high-mix, precision manufacturing environment.
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Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .
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