Customer Quality Engineer III

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

The Customer Quality Engineer III supports customer and product quality objectives through advanced product data collection and analysis, and structured problem-solving activities. This role applies deep technical expertise to complex lithium-ion battery performance, safety, and reliability testing and qualification processes, and investigating multi-variable quality issues, and implements effective corrective actions. Operating with limited supervision, the engineer impacts multiple projects or teams by developing and improving testing, driving process improvements, and exercising independent judgment within their area of expertise. The role collaborates across departments and with external stakeholders, presents findings to management, and mentors junior engineers while maintaining and advancing SOPs, methods, and standards in support of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery initiative.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM), or a related field
• 4+ years of relevant experience, including hands-on laboratory or product testing experience in a manufacturing or R&D environment
• Demonstrated proficiency in mechanical and electrical engineering principles as applied to complex product testing, evaluation, and failure analysis
• Ability to work with limited supervision, exercising independent technical judgment on complex or ambiguous quality and testing issues
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical findings, risks, and recommendations to cross-functional teams and management
• Proven ability to accurately document, interpret, and communicate complex test data, investigation outcomes, and corrective actions
• Proficiency in applying statistical techniques to analyze data, identify trends, and support data-driven decision-making (e.g., SPC, basic DOE)
• Demonstrated expertise in metrology, measurement techniques, and advanced laboratory test equipment
• Solid working knowledge of quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949) and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., UL, CE, RoHS), with the ability to apply them independently
• Ability to quickly understand and apply production processes, quality requirements, and risk considerations within a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers, provide technical guidance, and contribute to team-based problem solving
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean certification, or demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and cross-functional problem-solving efforts
• 6+ years of laboratory or product testing experience
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments such as lithium-ion batteries, electronics, automotive, or energy storage
• Hands-on experience with lithium-ion cell testing and/or manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated experience applying advanced product testing and evaluation methodologies such as SPC, DOE, HALT, HASS, ORT, and applicable industrial or regulatory standards
• Experience leading laboratory investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation for complex quality issues
• Experience working with laboratory data systems, dashboards, or data visualization tools (e.g., LIMS, Power BI, Foundry, or similar) to support technical decision-making and reporting

Responsibilities

• Applies deep technical expertise to routine performance, safety, and reliability testing on lithium-ion cells in accordance with specifications and procedures
• Develops, reviews, and validates testing standards, methods, and acceptance criteria to ensure robust and repeatable results
• Leads medium-sized laboratory or quality projects, managing scope, timelines, and resource coordination
• Plan and execute product qualification and product change management effecting customers
• Conducts root cause analysis and corrective action and preventative actions with cross-functional internal stakeholders and customers
• Independently resolves complex, multi-variable quality and testing problems using structured problem-solving methodologies
• Performs advanced data analysis to identify trends, systemic failure modes, and improvement opportunities
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, test efficiency, and defect reduction
• Develops and implements new or improved test methods, procedures, or processes based on data-driven insights
• Provides technical guidance during root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
• Mentors Customer Quality Engineer I and II team members through technical coaching and knowledge sharing
• Serves as a technical resource for laboratory technicians and engineers on testing practices and problem resolution
• May lead small, cross-functional project teams or focused technical workstreams
• Collaborates across departments including manufacturing, engineering, quality, and supply chain to resolve complex quality issues
• Communicates technical findings, risks, and recommendations to management and stakeholders
• Presents test results, analyses, and improvement proposals using clear, data-supported narratives
• Makes independent technical decisions within area of expertise and appropriately escalates broader risks
• Maintains, evaluates, follows, and improves SOPs related to safe handling, testing, storage, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries
• Leads containment actions and supports disposition and treatment of nonconforming product
• Ensures compliance with quality management systems, plant requirements, and PECNA policies and procedures
• Promotes a strong safety culture and ensures adherence to laboratory, environmental, and regulatory standards

Benefits

• Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources.
• High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level