NEON Instrumentation Quality Engineer - CO

Battelle•Boulder, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Battelle manages and operates the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) program, which is solely funded by the National Science Foundation. A 30+ year project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology, the observatory’s scientists and engineers are collecting a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. Our teams use cutting-edge technology, including an airborne observation platform that captures images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. Once structures are completed, a leading-edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory includes more than 500+ personnel and is the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales. We are currently seeking a NEON Instrumentation Quality Engineer. This is an on-site position located in Boulder, CO. The Quality Engineer is part of a team that performs activities in the Assembly, Repair, and Calibration (ARC) Laboratories which manages environmental monitoring sensors and equipment. The Quality Engineer will carry out audits to ensure quality objectives of the NEON project are met including evaluation of external laboratory quality systems and internal audits of the assembly, repair and calibration laboratories. The Quality Engineer will be responsible for the support of the assembly, repair and calibration quality systems and continual improvement of the operating laboratories. In addition, the Quality Engineer will contribute to the operations, development and assurance of quality systems.

Requirements

Bachelors of Science in engineering or a related science field or equivalent experience
2-5 years of related experience, additional education can be substituted for experience
Knowledge of mathematics and statistics
Experience reviewing QA/QC plans and procedures and providing feedback for improvement
Experience working in a collaborative scientific or engineering enterprise
Familiarity with ISO 17025 accreditation or similar
Expertise with office software (Excel, Work, Access, Visio, etc.)
Ability to work effectively within a diverse team and across organizations
Organized with the ability to multitask
Very effective written and oral communication skills; demonstrated technical documentation skills
Very effective interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate with others
Self-directed and motivated with the ability to work independently with little direction or supervision as well as in a team environment
Ability to solve complex problems by applying experience, judgment, and creativity to both short‐ and long‐term challenge
High-level of accountability to ensure the protection and security of company data
Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment Visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

Some travel may be required
Ability to drive company vehicles

Responsibilities

Supports department manager and supervisor for meeting quality objectives for the NEON project.
Perform internal and external audits of the labs to ensure quality objectives for the NEON program.
Perform and complete cross training for testing and calibration of sensors.
Provide issue and problem tracking and resolution to support project operations.
Coordinate across departments and external suppliers to ensure issue and problem resolutions and to ensure quality objectives for the project.
Coordinate QA/QC data flows with other related NEON groups.
Calibrate and validate sensors and auxiliary reference materials.
Support laboratory standards maintenance and calibrations.
Lead ongoing quality assurance activities including ensuring traceability to nationally and/or internationally recognized standards or first principles.
Provide continuous improvement to laboratory procedures implemented for assembly, repair and calibration functions.
Maintain and help troubleshoot measurement fixtures used for the functionality and calibration of sensors.
Ensure completeness of required documentation (e.g. Procedures, engineering schematics, design descriptions, operation procedures, troubleshooting manuals, block diagrams, bill of materials, etc.) related to areas of responsibility and coordinate updates as required.
Follow NEON and laboratory specific safety requirements, policy and procedures.