Product Quality Specialist

DESCRIPTION

Job Summary

The New Product Quality Leader is responsible for ensuring that all new products meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and compliance throughout the product development lifecycle. This role acts as the primary quality interface between engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and customers during new product introduction. The leader drives proactive quality planning, risk assessment, and validation activities to deliver defect-free products on time.

Key Responsibilities

Product Quality Leadership

• Lead and participate in product quality improvement activities across VPI and VPC forums.
• Integrate lessons learned from current products into new product development to improve reliability and performance.
• Drive product quality improvement initiatives with the Reliability team, ensuring customer requirements are met and FIRG closures are effective.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.
• Champion continuous improvement and lessons learned for future programs.

• Drive resolution of application-oriented issues to safeguard product performance and ensure smooth field operation.
• Review application sign-off to ensure alignment with actual field conditions for Safe Launch readiness.
• Conduct effective Safe Launch processes to ensure Right-First-Time (RFT) PPAP approvals and flawless product launches.

• Lead customer audits and ensure customer-specific requirements are implemented for new products.
• Support and collaborate with cross-functional teams for Class 4 and change management processes, ensuring necessary quality inputs.

• Attend TFR/CEFR meetings to identify potential risks and drive mitigation actions.
• Ensure effective closure of FIRG and support IQA activities, participating with Application Engineering teams where applicable.
• Review DVP&R to identify opportunities for product and process quality improvement.

• Direct multiple teams to plan, track, and report quality and reliability of products or subsystems.
• Establish tools, processes, and preventative systems to improve functional excellence.

• Identify and develop resources needed to achieve long-term and short-term quality goals.
• Mentor and lead teams focused on quality improvement and problem-solving.
• Conduct reviews of post-implementation activities and implement improvement opportunities.

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related technical/scientific discipline is required.
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanction regulations.

• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Manages Conflict
• Values Differences

• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) - Leads structured processes to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Measurement Science (Metrology) - Applies measurement science to reduce uncertainty and improve accuracy.
• Problem Solving - Uses structured methodologies to determine root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Quality Systems Management - Applies quality management tools to sustain and improve QMS effectiveness.
• Quality Leadership (COS/TQM) - Drives a culture of continuous improvement using COS and TQM principles.
• Statistical Foundations - Applies statistical techniques to interpret data and guide decisions.

• Project Management - Balances scope, schedule, and resources to deliver results.
• Organizational Savvy - Navigates complex organizational dynamics effectively.
• Global Perspective - Applies broader organizational and market understanding to decision-making.

• Significant relevant experience in product quality, manufacturing quality, or engineering is required.
• Leadership experience, including managerial and budgetary responsibilities, is essential.
• Strong cross-business knowledge and experience working across functional teams is preferred.