Quality Engineer

We're hiring a Quality Engineer to own quality across our supply chain and manufacturing operations. You'll work with suppliers to qualify parts and processes, drive root-cause investigations when things go wrong, and build the quality systems that let us scale without sacrificing reliability. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who likes being on the factory floor and at supplier sites as much as at a desk.

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)