Advanced Quality Engineer

About the role The Advanced Quality Engineer (AQE) serves as the quality lead for all product and process quality activities during the project development and industrialization stage. Reporting to Corporate Quality, the AQE works closely with the Project Manager and Technical Lead to ensure all customer, internal, and regulatory quality requirements are effectively built into the design and manufacturing process from concept through mass production. The AQE ensures new products are developed right the first time, supporting a smooth transition to production with stable, compliant, and reliable quality performance in accordance with ISO 9001 and customer expectations. Key responsibilities Project Quality Leadership - Represent the Quality function in the project core team, providing leadership on all quality-related activities - Participate in quotation and feasibility reviews, providing quality cost, risk, and resource input - Define and track project quality objectives and metrics based on customer and corporate targets - Lead the NPI Quality Planning process (APQP-based or equivalent) and ensure all quality deliverables are completed on time Design and Validation Quality - Collaborate with R&D and Technical teams to apply Design for Quality (DFQ), Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Design for Reliability (DFR) principles - Lead preparation and maintenance of FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and Verification & Validation Plans - Define and verify inspection and measurement methods; review and approve gauges, AOI/AVI systems, and test fixtures Supplier and Process Readiness - Lead First Article Inspection (FAI) or equivalent submission per customer requirements - Conduct or participate in system, process, and product audits to verify process stability and control - Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure supplier and process capability readiness. Issue Management and Continuous Improvement - Track and drive closure of quality issues using structured methods (8D, RCCA, DMAIC) - Interface directly with customers on quality topics—requirements, issue resolution, documentation, and approval. - Capture and share lessons learned from development phases for continual improvement. About you - Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Optical/Photonics/Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Physics, or related discipline - Minimum 7 years of quality or product engineering experience, including ≥3 years in NPI or Advanced Quality or product quality roles within optics, electronics, semiconductor frontend/backend or other related manufacturing - Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001; IATF 16949 knowledge is an advantage) - Good understanding of APQP or equivalent, Control Plan, PFMEA/DFMEA, MSA, SPC, Process Validation, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) or equivalent qualification methodologies - Experience in product development, NPI, process transfer, and manufacturing process qualification activities - Experience leading customer qualification activities, including FAI, Process Validation, Reliability Validation, PPAP submissions, and customer audits - Strong problem-solving skills with hands-on experience in 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Analysis, DOE, and statistical analysis tools - Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate quality risks throughout the product and process development lifecycle - Experience working with cross-functional teams including R&D, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Sales - Experience in customer quality, supplier quality, or quality management roles is an advantage - Knowledge of optical, semiconductor, photonics, precision manufacturing, or high-tech manufacturing processes is preferred. - Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal teams - Self-driven, analytical, and capable of leading quality initiatives in a fast-paced and global manufacturing environment. - Travel Required