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Product Quality Engineer
nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, Inc.United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 12 Feb 2026
💰 $95,000/yr($85,000/yr – $95,000/yr)
About the role
About nLIGHT At nLIGHT, we are constantly on the cutting-edge of laser technology in a massively growing market. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made. Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR). The Product Quality Engineer is responsible for leading resolution and improvements in customer quality, internal quality, and supplier quality. They ensure requirements are met, audits are supported, and issues resolved. The successful candidate will have a strong background in quality systems, leading continuous improvement activities, problem solving, and ensuring compliance with a quality management system. Responsibilities:
- Supports New Product Introduction (NPI) programs through implementation of Quality Plans, Purchase Part Inspection Plans, New Part Qualification, DFMEA, and PFMEA.
- Supports released production through updates to Quality Plans and quality improvement programs.
- Manages customer product quality with customer feedback, Corrective Actions, auditing, and reporting.
- Supports customer and regulatory audits of products.
- Manages Non-Conforming Material (NCM) process with disposition, reporting, and leading Material Review Board (MRB).
- Supports inline quality resolution with containment, root cause, corrective and preventive actions. May lead some activities.
- Assists process owners with Measurement System Analysis (MSA/GRR) to ensure adequacy of data collection tools.
- Identifies improvements through Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Control Plans, and preventive actions (Poka Yoke).
- Provides problem solving leadership through the standard quality tools including 8D, Cause-Effect, Run Charts, Pareto, and Check Sheets.
- Provides guidance and support to Quality Inspectors, creates incoming inspection plans, and verifies inspection failures as required.
- Adds flow down requirements to suppliers with Quality Assurance Provisions adds to Purchase Orders.
- Provides training to sustain improvement activities.
- 5 years experience working as a Quality Engineer, Product Engineer, Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, or Industrial Engineer.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, Math, or Statistics.
- 2 years experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Ability to work periodically in a Class 10K clean room environment
- Strong analytical data analysis skills
- Ability to lead small to medium size projects with cross functional teams
- Clear communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to audit internal processes for conformance to requirements
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
- Ability to sit/stand/walk for 8 or more hours, as needed.
- Ability to work in both office and industrial environments, including clean rooms and labs.
- Ability to travel locally to various company locations, as needed.
- Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as document review, testing, and data entry on computers.
- Ability to sit, stand, or walk during meetings, training, or conducting audits.
- Ability to walk through production areas or facility floors to oversee processes and conduct inspections.
- Ability to occasionally lift boxes of materials, test samples, or documents (up to 20 lbs).
- Ability to occasionally travel overnight for supplier audits, customer visits, or off-site inspections, sometimes involving long drives or flights.
nLIGHT is proud to offer comprehensive COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Salary level based on experience, education, and skills:
- Quality Engineer II: $85,000 - $95,000
Other Compensation and Benefits
- Target Cash Bonus of 5% of your wages
- Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grant
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