Principal Quality Engineer-Optical Systems

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional teams including optical design, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, process engineering, and suppliers to ensure quality is built into product and process development.

• Lead structured root cause investigations using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, Fishbone, and 5-Why to resolve internal and customer-facing quality issues.

• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to closure and verify effectiveness through data-based validation and follow-up.

• Develop and maintain quality plans, control plans, inspection strategies, and process documentation for optical systems and assemblies.

• Implement and monitor yield metrics, and other quality indicators to reduce variation and improve product performance.

• Conduct and support internal audits to ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and other applicable quality management standards.

• Collaborate with suppliers to evaluate process capability, manage nonconformances, and improve overall supply chain quality performance.

• Support new product introduction (NPI) and production ramp activities, ensuring process readiness, risk mitigation, and manufacturing scalability.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma principles within a technical manufacturing environment.

• Prepare and present quality performance reports, audit findings, and improvement plans to leadership and key stakeholders.

Education & Experience

M.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field.

• Minimum 10 years of experience in quality engineering focused on optical systems, photonics devices, or optoelectronic assemblies.

• Demonstrated experience supporting products through NPI and high-volume technical manufacturing environments.