Quality Manager

Coherent•Starkville, MS

About The Position

The Quality Manager maintains the site’s quality system and oversees quality control, inspection, calibration, and nonconforming-material processes. The role evaluates product quality against customer and internal requirements, investigates returned products, and coordinates corrective actions and process improvements with production, engineering, customers, suppliers, and auditors. The position also supports corporate quality initiatives, continuous improvement, and training for the manufacturing team, and reports on the site’s Quality Management System performance and improvement needs. The role requires at least seven years of experience in quality engineering or similar work, including three to five years in semiconductor or manufacturing. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific or engineering field, or equivalent, is required. The position involves travel within the United States 5–10% of the time, prolonged periods sitting at a desk and using a computer, and occasional hands-on work in a cleanroom. Employees must follow site and corporate EHS procedures and use required personal protective equipment. Due to ITAR compliance, candidates must be U.S. citizens, permanent resident aliens, or protected individuals under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Requirements

Minimum 7 years of experience in quality engineering or similar job functions.
3–5 years of experience in semiconductor or manufacturing.
Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, material science, engineering, or equivalent.
Problem-solving ability, including finding and removing root causes of individual and complex quality problems.
Understanding of and ability to develop quality systems, including processes and procedures for auditing and corrective and preventive actions.
Sound judgment in selecting methods and techniques to address complex problems and find solutions.
Experience with SPC, Six Sigma, Lean, and TQM techniques.
Knowledge of auditing, including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Strong computer skills and written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel within the United States 5–10% of the time.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), due to ITAR compliance.
Ability to work at a computer and perform occasional hands-on work in a cleanroom.
Follow required safety training, site EHS procedures, corporate EHS standards, and PPE requirements.

Nice To Haves

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.
Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) qualification.

Responsibilities

Maintain an effective quality system and develop and implement quality control plans and procedures.
Maintain the RMA system, determine root causes of returns, and implement solutions promptly.
Perform and respond to quality audits and facilitate corrective actions and process improvements based on audit results, working with quality and production teams.
Evaluate product quality to ensure shipped products meet customer and internal requirements.
Maintain the incoming inspection function at the MS site and provide timely reports.
Manage calibration programs at the MS site.
Control nonconforming material at the MS site.
Assist production and engineering personnel in delivering quality products.
Support corporate-wide quality initiatives and projects and apply quality tools and methods such as FMEA and SPC.
Champion continuous improvement programs and initiatives.
Plan, promote, and organize training for the manufacturing team on the quality system.
Interface with customers, suppliers, and third-party auditors on a variety of topics.
Report to top management on the performance of the site’s QMS and any required improvements.
Follow applicable quality and environmental standards and maintain relevant systems, depending on location.
Attend required training and follow site and corporate EHS standards and procedures; ensure safety and environmental procedures are followed consistently, including risk assessments, training, work instructions, PPE availability, and compliance monitoring.