Quality Engineer II

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Summary

The ideal candidate will have significant quality experience in mechatronic and electronic systems. The Quality Engineer II will have a strong customer focus and the desire to drive quality investigations and continuous improvement, and to be a contributor to new product development programs. He/she will be self‑starting, with a strong desire to succeed, and collaborate and grow with others in the organization. The candidate will demonstrate the passion, rigor, and discipline needed to develop and deliver products to market and sustain released products.

Key responsibilities include the overall management of incoming, in‑process, and final inspection activities, including hands‑on inspection and metrology support such as CMM programming, operation, and data analysis. The role will support RMA activities and projects, supplier quality initiatives, and ISO 9001 quality system requirements, including audit support. This individual will be responsible for processing and analyzing incoming RMAs from the field, leading root‑cause investigations, applying data‑driven quality methods (e.g., SPC, Cp/Cpk), and driving corrective actions through to effective customer closure. The Quality Engineer II will maintain a strong customer focus while contributing to operational quality, supplier quality, and new product development programs.

Primary Responsibilities

Customer Quality

• Represent Celera Motion effectively when addressing key customer quality issues.
• Ensure timely communication and complete problem resolution.
• Present findings and actions from RMA investigations using 8D, 5 Why, or other reporting methods.
• Maintain and improve the corporate RMA process to enhance efficiency, reduce warranty costs, and optimize cycle time.
• Lead customer complaint investigations, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, and customer communication.
• Lead customer audits, scorecard reviews, and recurring quality meetings.

Operations Quality

• Initiate and implement quality improvement activities (e.g., Novanta Growth System, Kaizen, Six Sigma/Lean).
• Support MRB inventory and scrap‑reduction efforts.
• Lead complex root‑cause investigations requiring statistical analysis or cross‑functional collaboration.
• Own site‑wide process‑capability initiatives (Cp/Cpk, SPC deployment, etc.).

Supplier Quality

• Communicate confirmed or suspected supplier quality issues and drive them to full resolution.
• Manage APQP/PPAP activities within the supply chain.
• Lead supplier audits and qualify new suppliers with minimal oversight.
• Serve as the supplier's technical subject‑matter expert during escalations.

Quality Control

• Monitor, track, and report daily inspection throughput (incoming and outgoing).
• Perform inspection per IPC/WHMA requirements.
• Define sampling plans based on product risk.
• Perform and maintain First Article Inspection Reports and other qualification documentation.
• Program and operate CMM equipment (preferred).
• Lead internal ISO 9001 audits and act as an audit team leader.
• Develop or revise core quality procedures with cross-functional approval.

NPI Quality Engineering

• Lead part qualifications both internally and within the supply chain
• Assist in engineering to production transfers
• Provide product compliance certification support
• Participate and facilitate D/PFMEAs
• Supports engineering efforts by participating in design development projects, representing quality assurance and the customer.
• Ensures that customers’ product specifications are analyzed to establish efficient, cost-effective requirements for ease of manufacture and reproducibility
• Train manufacturing and inspection personnel as required
• Manages root-cause analysis and other problem-solving activities to identify effective corrective actions and process improvements within manufacturing, materials, engineering, and planning
• Ensures ISO 9001 is maintained and continually drive quality system improvements
• Ensures that procedures for process control, process improvement, test and inspection are controlled and followed
• Collect and analyze data to predict trends that will affect the improvement of product quality
• Lead quality engineering on major NPI programs
• Lead cross-functional D/PFMEA reviews and risk mitigation plans

General Tasks

• Document all CMM procedures (photos, setup, running program, etc.)
• Perform daily CMM inspections
• Program and troubleshoot CMM as required for CMM inspections
• Train QE or Inspector/CMM technician on our processes
• Strict compliance with quality, occupational safety, and environmental regulations
• Implementation of the instructions of the quality / environmental management representative and the occupational safety specialist
• Own calibration system oversight or metrology strategy for key product families (as applicable)
• Lead continuous improvement events such as Kaizen, value-stream mapping, or NGS projects

Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies

• 5-8 plus years working in a manufacturing environment as a Quality Engineer II or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or similar experience
• Supplier Quality experience is highly desired
• Supplier Audits/Survey
  • PPAP, APQP, D/PFMEA and Gage R & R
  • CMM experience is required
• Must demonstrate the ability to show initiative and commitment to the company’s goals as well as readily adapt to changing requirements
• Able to work from specifications, technical manuals, schematics, and verbal/written instructions
• Ability to discuss technical problems encountered with customers, engineering and the senior management team

• Experience with ERP systems, Oracle experience a plus

Travel Requirements   

• Minimal travel expected to visit customers as required.  Expected <20%.  Must have a valid passport and be able to travel internationally if required.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.