Senior Material Quality Engineer

Advantest•San Jose, CA

About The Position

This key position is responsible for maintaining and improving the quality of materials shipped by suppliers to Advantest and its contract manufacturers. The role supports new supplier qualification, regular quality meetings with internal teams and key suppliers, quality-issue resolution, component-level failure analysis, and maintenance of the tools, equipment, and processes used for these activities. The scope includes projects for Advantest America, Inc. and other U.S. subsidiaries. The engineer works with internal R&D engineers, field support teams, and supplier quality teams to exchange technical information about component operating conditions and identified issues and drive issues to closure. The role also involves conducting and reporting manufacturing process audits, making supplier qualification decisions, and continuously improving processes and tools. Frequent travel is required, including monthly travel between San Jose and Southern California and international travel primarily to supplier locations in Southeast Asia.

Requirements

More than three years of experience in supplier quality activities involving component suppliers, including one or more of PCBs, electrical components, semiconductors, or sheet metal.
More than three years of experience conducting and reporting manufacturing process audits involving PCB assemblies, electrical components, or both.
Intermediate to advanced knowledge of evaluation or failure-analysis methods for PCBs, PCB assemblies, electrical components, or a combination of these areas.
Proficiency using evaluation and analysis equipment such as V-I curve tracers, thermal probes, X-ray systems, scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), cross-sectioning tools, and oscilloscopes.
Ability to communicate effectively with internal R&D engineers, field support teams, and supplier quality teams; exchange technical information about component operating conditions and identified issues; and drive issues to closure.
Ability to manage multiple tasks by setting priorities, identifying challenges, seeking timely guidance and support from a supervisor, and developing completion plans.
Basic knowledge of electrical circuits, electrical components, or metal machining.
Basic knowledge of electrical and mechanical materials.
Basic mechanical knowledge, including sheet metal, cabling, PCBs, and injection molding.
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, or equivalent education and experience.
Familiarity with electronics and basic mechanical principles.
Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment, and to communicate and collaborate across functions.
Proficiency with PCs and a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office, demonstrated through work experience.
Ability to travel frequently, including monthly travel between San Jose and Southern California, and internationally, primarily to supplier locations in Southeast Asia.

Nice To Haves

Advanced knowledge in one or more of electrical circuits, electrical components, or metal machining.
Japanese-language proficiency.
Familiarity with electronics and experience with automated test equipment (ATE).

Responsibilities

Maintain and improve the quality of materials shipped by suppliers to Advantest and its contract manufacturers.
Support new supplier qualification and make well-supported, professional supplier qualification decisions.
Participate in regular quality meetings with internal teams and key suppliers.
Resolve quality issues and conduct component-level failure analysis.
Maintain tools, equipment, and processes used for quality activities.
Conduct and report manufacturing process audits involving PCB assemblies, electrical components, or both.
Communicate and exchange technical information with internal R&D engineers, field support teams, and supplier quality teams, and drive issues to closure.
Create reports using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint; analyze data using Excel formulas and charts.
Follow rules and procedures defined in HR and ISO documentation.
Travel frequently, including monthly travel between San Jose and Southern California and international travel primarily to supplier locations in Southeast Asia.
Perform duties safely and comply with safety policies and procedures, the Code of Ethics, ISO standards, and applicable regulatory and statutory requirements.
Work effectively both independently and collaboratively across functions.