Quality Engineer

Brio Water Technology•City of Industry, CA

10d

About The Position

The Quality Engineer develops test methods and protocols, validates supplier testing methods, and investigates technical issues involving water refrigeration and ice production products. The role connects engineering, manufacturing, and customer satisfaction and drives continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle, from supplier qualification through final delivery. The position leads structured, data-driven investigations of product quality issues, rapidly diagnosing failures in the field and on the production floor, identifying root causes, and implementing permanent corrective actions. Responsibilities span product and process quality, troubleshooting and root cause analysis, regulatory and environmental compliance, and cross-functional continuous improvement. The Quality Engineer also presents quality performance and improvement plans to senior leadership and trains manufacturing personnel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related field.
3–7 years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of ISO 9001 QMS requirements and audit processes.
A demonstrated record of leading structured root cause investigations through verified corrective-action closure, with examples of RCA reports and CAPA outcomes from prior roles.
Hands-on proficiency with 8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa/fishbone, fault tree analysis, and DMAIC, and ability to select tools appropriate to failure complexity.
Ability to troubleshoot electromechanical systems, including refrigeration cycles, water flow systems, and electrical controls, through logical, hypothesis-driven investigation.
Proficiency with FMEA, PPAP, SPC, MSA, control plans, and inspection methods.
Experience with GD&T and precision measurement instruments such as calipers, CMM, and pressure gauges.
Familiarity with NSF/ANSI certification processes and water-contact material requirements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical RCA findings and corrective-action plans to engineering, operations, and executive audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience in refrigeration, ice appliances, or food-grade equipment manufacturing.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
Formal training or certification in 8D problem-solving, DMAIC, or advanced root cause analysis.
Experience performing or overseeing teardown and failure analysis of refrigeration components.
Familiarity with refrigeration diagnostics, including manifold gauge sets, pressure-temperature charts, superheat/subcooling analysis, and leak detection equipment.
Knowledge of ASHRAE refrigeration standards and EPA 608 technician certification.
Exposure to commercial or industrial ice machine design, chiller systems, or water purification equipment.
Experience managing CAPA systems with effectiveness verification and long-term recurrence tracking.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute inspection and test plans for refrigeration components, ice-making assemblies, water filtration systems, and compressor units.
Apply statistical process control to monitor manufacturing processes and identify variation trends before they result in non-conformance.
Perform and oversee FMEA for new and existing products and develop and track risk mitigation actions.
Conduct root cause analysis for field failures and in-process defects using 8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa, and DMAIC methodologies.
Lead investigations into in-process defects, warranty returns, field failures, and customer complaints related to ice production, water dispensing, refrigeration performance, and water quality.
Troubleshoot refrigeration and ice system failures using hands-on inspection and data analysis.
Use a systematic investigation process that includes containment, symptom mapping, data collection, hypothesis testing, verified root-cause identification, and corrective action.
Select and apply structured problem-solving tools such as 8D reports, 5-Why analysis, Ishikawa diagrams, fault tree analysis, DMAIC, and is/is-not analysis.
Distinguish root causes, contributing factors, and detection failures, and ensure corrective actions address each layer.
Perform or coordinate returned-unit and component failure analysis, including teardown and inspection, and document findings with photographs, measurements, and technical reports.
Analyze warranty and field failure data for systemic trends and early warning signals, escalate repeat failures, and drive cross-functional response teams.
Develop and maintain a CAPA system, ensure RCAs result in formal reports, and verify effectiveness at 30, 60, and 90 days.
Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service teams to gather process data, design documentation, and field observations for investigations.
Lead or facilitate rapid-response quality reviews for critical customer escapes or field safety concerns, including product holds, sorting, and customer communication.
Maintain a knowledge base of failure modes, RCA outcomes, and corrective actions for water refrigeration and ice production systems.
Ensure ice and water-contact products meet NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI 372 certification requirements.
Monitor compliance with refrigerant handling regulations and applicable environmental health and safety standards.
Track regulatory changes and advise Engineering and Product Development on impacts to current and future product lines.
Collaborate with R&D and Engineering on design-for-quality principles during new product introduction.
Present quality metrics, KPIs, and improvement roadmaps to senior leadership monthly and quarterly.
Mentor and train manufacturing technicians and line leads on quality standards, measurement techniques, and defect identification.