Quality Engineer II

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Engineer II works collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues, defects, and process deviations so products meet internal and customer specifications. The role applies quality engineering fundamentals to manufacturing quality, process stability, and continuous improvement in a battery manufacturing environment. It operates with moderate supervision, independently managing routine assignments and escalating more complex issues as appropriate, with primary impact on individual projects or defined production areas.

The engineer supports quality standards, procedures, controls, improvement projects, structured problem solving, experiments, process optimization, containment, and corrective actions. The role also provides day-to-day technical support and training assistance to quality personnel; communicates investigation findings and improvement outcomes; produces routine quality and process reports; conducts audits, assessments, and inspections; and assists with maintaining the Quality Management System and compliance with applicable standards.

The position is based at Panasonic Energy’s onsite facility in De Soto, Kansas. Work may require personal protective equipment, potentially including a Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, or a hazmat suit with respirator. The normal workday involves approximately 10% sitting, 40% walking, and 50% standing. Lifting requirements include frequent lifting up to 20 lbs., occasional lifting up to 35 lbs., and occasional team lifting over 35 lbs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in quality engineering or a related manufacturing environment, including laboratory or hands-on production support.
• Proficiency with statistical tools such as SPC, DOE, and CAPA, and data-driven problem-solving techniques.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, control systems, and programming languages such as Java, SQL, or Python.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a proactive and detail-oriented approach.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Self-motivation and sound judgment to support investigations and corrective actions under supervision.
• Basic understanding of quality management systems and regulatory requirements, including ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
• Willingness to learn, receive guidance, and contribute positively to team efforts.
• Working-level knowledge of English, including reading, writing, and speaking.
• Alignment with Panasonic’s seven core principles: contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, and gratitude.
• Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related discipline.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or progress toward certification.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
• At least 4 years of experience in quality engineering or related manufacturing roles, preferably in lithium-ion batteries, automotive, electronics, or other regulated industries.
• Exposure to internal or external quality audits or certification processes.
• Familiarity with advanced quality tools such as FMEA, MSA, control plans, and process capability analysis.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-volume, or regulated manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Apply working-level quality engineering knowledge to support development, implementation, and maintenance of quality standards, procedures, and controls in assigned areas.
• Support small to medium quality and process improvement projects, including scope definition, data collection, analysis, and execution of corrective actions.
• Participate in quality and process improvement initiatives in assigned functional or production areas, collaborating with senior engineers.
• Investigate and resolve moderately complex quality and process issues using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, A3, and DMAIC, with guidance as needed.
• Use Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools to analyze process data, identify root causes, and support corrective and preventive actions.
• Participate in designing and executing experiments, such as DOE, to validate process changes and improvement effectiveness.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on process optimization to improve efficiency, reduce defects, and enhance product quality.
• Support day-to-day containment actions, rapid countermeasures, and corrective actions within assigned production areas.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to Quality Specialists, Quality Technicians, and Quality Inspectors.
• Assist with training on quality tools, standards, inspection methods, and problem-solving techniques.
• Share best practices and support team-based continuous-improvement activities.
• Work with Quality Management, Operations, Engineering, and other teams to identify process inefficiencies and improvement opportunities in the battery manufacturing cycle.
• Communicate investigation results, corrective actions, and improvement outcomes to team members and leadership within the defined scope.
• Generate routine reports on quality performance and process improvement activities, including KPIs, for senior engineers and management.
• Escalate risks, constraints, and unresolved quality issues to senior quality or management personnel as appropriate.
• Conduct routine audits, assessments, and inspections of manufacturing processes to verify compliance with quality standards and documented procedures.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining the Quality Management System.
• Ensure work activities comply with applicable quality and regulatory standards, including ISO 9001, IATF 16949, UL, CE, and RoHS, within assigned responsibilities.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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