Software Quality Engineer I - Hybrid

Panasonic • Irvine, CA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Software Quality Assurance Engineer I is an entry-level individual contributor within the Software Quality Assurance organization. The role is primarily focused on supporting software quality assurance activities across the development lifecycle, including quality reviews, evidence preparation, traceability checks, audit readiness support, corrective and preventive action tracking, and quality metrics reporting. While primarily focused on Software Quality Assurance activities, this role also supports AI-enabled and automation initiatives that enhance quality, compliance, process efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. This may include assisting with automation opportunities, data analysis, metrics generation, trend identification, and AI-enabled review or audit-support activities under the guidance of the Software Quality Assurance Manager and senior team members. This position works closely with the Software Quality Assurance Manager, senior SQA team members, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Project Management, Global Quality stakeholders, and automation partners to help ensure consistent application of documented quality processes while contributing to practical continuous improvement and operational execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related technical field required.
• Entry-level or early-career experience (typically 0-2 years) in Software Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering, Software Engineering, testing, audit support, data analysis, scripting, automation, or process improvement.
• Foundational understanding of quality assurance, software development lifecycles, engineering, or process improvement principles.
• Basic knowledge of problem-solving and root cause analysis methods.
• Ability to learn and apply quality standards, internal procedures, and customer or regulatory requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and global teams.
• Ability to analyze data, records, and technical artifacts to identify trends, gaps, risks, or improvement opportunities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint); experience with data reporting or visualization tools is a plus.
• Demonstrated curiosity, problem-solving mindset, and interest in using automation and AI to improve quality and compliance processes.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and adjust to changing priorities across different quality initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework, internship, project, or early-career exposure to software development lifecycles, testing, requirements, quality systems, audit readiness, regulated technical environments, data analytics, automation, or introductory AI concepts preferred.
• Familiarity with Agile / SAFe practices, quality standards, root cause/corrective action concepts, software release processes, or enterprise work management systems is preferred.
• Exposure to programming, scripting, automation tooling, data analysis, or introductory AI / machine-learning concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support quality activities throughout the software development lifecycle in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with industry standards (AS9100 and DO-178), product, OEM, process, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Maintain accurate and auditable quality records, ensuring objective evidence is complete, timely, and inspection-ready.
• Support traceability reviews, evidence preparation, quality reviews, audit readiness activities, and selected SQA assessments under guidance from senior team members.
• Assist with defining, updating, collecting, and reporting KPI data and trends in partnership with KPI owners.
• Support KPI monitoring and contribute to get-to-green plans, improvement initiatives, and action tracking as needed.
• Participate in Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) activities, including root cause analysis, corrective/preventive action documentation, effectiveness tracking, and lessons learned sharing.
• Assist in developing or updating procedures, work instructions, checklists, quality planning documentation, and other process assets.
• Collaborate with offshore, cross-functional, and Global Quality partners to address quality-related issues and support standardization of SQA practices across programs.
• Support investigations, initiatives, audits, and cross-functional projects as needed at the team or organizational level.
• Assist with identifying and documenting opportunities to use automation, AI-enabled analysis, or data analytics to improve SQA workflows, quality reporting, audit readiness, and compliance activities.
• Support development, maintenance, or validation of simple automation solutions, dashboards, scripts, or AI-enabled tools that improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability of quality activities.
• Collaborate with Software Engineering, SQA team members, and other stakeholders to help integrate automation capabilities into existing enterprise tools and workflows while preserving appropriate human oversight and accountability.

Benefits

• Flexible paid time off for exempt salaried employees.
• 14 vacation days per year + 7 sick days + 3 personal days for non-exempt hourly employees, with accrual rate increasing with tenure.
• 11 company paid holidays per year.
• Office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Additional compensation for operational positions working on holidays.
• Medical insurance offerings from Aetna and Kaiser.
• Dental PPO and DMO options.
• Vision insurance through EyeMed or VSP.
• 401K with 50% match on up to 8% contribution, fully vested from day 1.
• Washington’s Family and Medical Leave program (for Washington residents).
• Washington’s Paid Sick Leave program (for Washington residents).
• Wellness Program.
• Counseling services.
• FSA & HSA.
• Life Insurance for employee, spouse and child.
• AD&D Insurance.
• Long-term and Short-term disability.
• Critical Illness Insurance.
• Accident Insurance.
• Legal Assistance.
• Pet Insurance.
• Identity Theft Protection.
• Dependent Care FLSA.
• Education Assistance.
• Commuter Program.
• Employee Purchase Program.
• Service Award Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level