Manufacturing QA Engineering

Product Quality Engineer

Operations Engineering is NetApps Global Operations technical team that ensures our hardware platforms are designed for manufacturability and testability ramp smoothly at partners and deliver consistent quality in the field. The organization leads DFx/NPI process and test engineering product quality ownership supplier collaboration and compliance using data-driven methods to improve yield reliability and customer outcomes.

Were seeking an experienced Manufacturing Quality Engineerto serve as the Product Quality Engineer for one or more product this role youll own product quality strategy and outcomes from new product introduction through full-rate manufacturing and field performance. Youll lead cross-functional problem solving define critical-to-quality requirements deploy robust controls and drive systemic improvements that reduce defects escapes and warranty/returns.

You are a hands-on technical leader who partners with Design Manufacturing Test Supplier Quality Reliability and Customer teams to ensure products meet specifications regulations and customer expectations every time.

Job Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Product Quality Ownership

• Serve as the single point of accountability for product quality across the lifecycle (NPI production field).
• Define CTQs acceptance criteria and quality plans aligned with customer regulatory and internal requirements.
• Lead PFMEA/DFMEA Control Plans process validation and risk mitigation activities.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Drive APQP elements (PPAP/FAI capability studies MSA/Gage R&R process validation IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable).
• Collaborate with Design Engineering on DFM/DFA tolerancing (GD&T) and test strategy to ensure manufacturability and yield.

Manufacturing Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain robust process controls (SPC error-proofing test coverage traceability).
• Lead complex root cause analyses using 8D DMAIC and DOE; implement durable corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Own nonconformance management MRB decisions rework/repair instructions and change control (ECN).

Data-Driven Performance

• Monitor product quality metrics (FPY escapes/DPPM Cpk/Ppk yield OEE warranty/returns) and drive sustainable improvement.
• Build dashboards and reports; leverage statistical analysis to predict and prevent quality issues.

Supplier & Test Collaboration

• Partner with Supplier Quality to ensure incoming material/process capability; define incoming inspection criteria and FAIR/PPAP as needed.
• Collaborate with Test Engineering on coverage correlation false fail/escape reduction and measurement system confidence.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure compliance with relevant standards (e.g. ISO 9001 IATF 16949 AS9100 ISO 13485) and customer-specific requirements.
• Prepare audit evidence; lead product-related quality system improvements.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Act as a technical leader and mentor for junior engineers and technicians.
• Facilitate cross-functional quality reviews and represent product quality in customer executive and audit forums.

Education & Experience

Education

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Manufacturing Industrial Electrical Engineering or a closely related field required (ABET-accredited program preferred).
• Masters degree (MS/MEng) in an engineering discipline or a related field (e.g. Operations Quality) is preferred.
• Formal training in statistics/quality engineering (SPC MSA/Gage R&R DOE) strongly preferred.

Experience

• Typically requires 8 or more years of related experience.

Preferred Industry Experience

• One or more of: automotive aerospace/defense electronics/semiconductor industrial equipment medical devices energy or similar regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with APQP/PPAP AS9102 FAI IPC/JEDEC or device-specific standards (e.g. FDA/ISO 13485) depending on industry.