Quality Engineer

Materion•Newton, MA

About The Position

The Quality Engineer oversees quality assurance processes related to customer orders, ensuring products meet specifications and expectations for semiconductor and aerospace customers. The role collaborates with production, engineering, customer service, sales, commercial, procurement, and planning teams to address quality concerns, manage customer change-control requirements, implement corrective actions, and improve customer satisfaction. The position supports quality standards for refractory and alloy metals and requires technical depth in metals manufacturing and AS 9100 and/or ISO 9001 standards. Under the direction of the Quality Director, the Quality Engineer contributes to the electronic quality management system (eQMS), quality objectives, and Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Environmental, and Continual Improvement initiatives and metrics. The role also supports customer audits, customer-specific training, and continual improvement efforts. The position requires export-compliance eligibility for access to U.S.-controlled technology under ITAR and EAR. Candidates must qualify under an applicable eligibility category or be approved for an export license; any offer requiring a license is conditional on Materion determining it can obtain the license within a timeframe consistent with business requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering and four to five years of experience in a quality-related role working with metals.
Strong knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 quality management systems and industry standards relevant to semiconductor and aerospace applications.
Proficiency in statistical process control (SPC), root cause analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.
Experience using statistical software such as JMP or Minitab.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and customers.
Detail-oriented, with strong analytical skills and a commitment to quality.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and quality management software.
Experience using SAP or similar systems.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, customer quality standards, and technical procedures.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from managers and other employees.
Ability to solve practical problems in situations with limited standardization and interpret technical information and data in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
Very proficient spoken and written English to communicate with employees and understand customer specifications and technical documents.
Informed decision-making skills based on business and customer needs, including the ability to take decisive action with limited input and recognize when additional input is required.
Eligibility for access to U.S.-controlled technology under applicable ITAR and EAR requirements; the posting lists qualifying U.S. citizenship, nationality, permanent-resident, asylee/refugee, certain country-nationality with a letter of assurance, or export-license approval pathways.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.
The role regularly requires sitting; frequently requires using hands to handle or touch objects, tools, or controls and talking or hearing; occasionally requires lifting or moving up to 35 pounds and standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
Use of PPE is required to perform job functions.

Nice To Haves

A degree in metallurgy, materials science, chemistry, or chemical engineering is preferred.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer certification is preferred.
Six Sigma green belt or black belt certification, or similar practical experience, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance protocols to ensure compliance with industry standards and customer specifications for refractory and alloy metals.
Support customer quality inquiries and specification requests; address concerns and complaints; provide timely updates on quality issues; and support customer audits.
Investigate quality issues and non-conformances, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce recurrence.
Maintain accurate records of customer quality agreements, change-control requirements, and customer feedback.
Prepare reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
Collaborate with sales, commercial, production, engineering, procurement, and planning teams to integrate customer quality standards into manufacturing and delivery processes.
Provide customer-specific training and support to staff on quality standards, procedures, and best practices.
Identify process-improvement opportunities and contribute to initiatives that enhance product quality and customer satisfaction.
Support the eQMS and efforts to meet or exceed quality objectives and improve customer satisfaction.
Support Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Environmental, and Continual Improvement initiatives and metrics.