Senior NPI Quality Engineer

Illuminate USA•Pataskala, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Illuminate USA is seeking an experienced Senior NPI Quality Engineer for its factory in the Columbus, Ohio area. The role leads quality engineering efforts during the introduction of new products and materials, ensuring they meet defined performance standards and customer satisfaction goals. The engineer works across functions throughout the NPI lifecycle, from quality planning and requirements translation through pilot runs, production ramp-up, and ongoing improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical) or Science (Chemistry or Physics).
At least 5 years of relevant industry experience, including at least 3 years in quality engineering or project development roles.
Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments, particularly in the solar, semiconductor, electronics, or automotive industries.
Strong project management, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills.
Expertise in quality methodologies such as Control Plans, PFMEA/DFMEA, Root Cause Analysis, and structured problem-solving tools.
Proficiency in MS Office.
Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and communicate effectively across all organizational levels.

Nice To Haves

Experience with statistical analysis tools such as JMP or Minitab.

Responsibilities

Lead quality planning and execution during the NPI phase to ensure new products and materials meet performance standards and customer satisfaction goals.
Plan and implement QFD activities, including identifying deliverables, engaging cross-functional stakeholders, and translating customer requirements into technical solutions.
Identify Critical-to-Quality parameters and key process factors using quality standards, recurring issues, customer complaints, and PFMEA analysis.
Develop and execute cross-department CTQ action plans, ensuring implementation, measurable impact on quality KPIs, relevant personnel training, replication across production lines and shifts, and ongoing validation.
Collaborate with Process Engineering, Quality & Reliability, Operations Planning, and Customer Quality Engineering teams to align on product requirements.
Partner with Process Engineering to analyze new product and material designs and support documentation setup or revision.
Define the NPI quality maturity matrix, establish release criteria, and manage milestone reviews.
Track project quality metrics, timelines, and deliverables throughout the NPI lifecycle.
Provide hands-on support during pilot runs and production ramp-up, coordinate 2TP test runs, and address quality concerns.
Participate in technical review meetings to address deviations from quality requirements.
Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives to improve product quality, production yield, and manufacturing efficiency.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Quality Manager.