Principal Manufacturing Quality Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing and process engineering, quality, reliability, and machining support; set priorities based on build readiness, technical risks, and recurring production issues.
• Drive DfX reviews of optical, electronic, and vacuum/mechanical hardware to improve assembly, alignment, inspection, and service access.
• Develop and qualify controlled optical cleaning, bonding, precision assembly, and electronic build/test methods with Engineering and the production teams.
• Design and qualify assembly, alignment, bonding, and inspection fixtures; direct machining and tooling support for approved manufacturing needs.
• Capture first-of-a-kind learning in work instructions and training, with controlled revisions and qualification of affected personnel before new methods enter production.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Quality team to establish inspection, calibration, nonconformance, corrective-action, and release
• Lead root-cause analysis of assembly defects, alignment rework, and test failures; use the findings to improve processes and maintainability.
• Demonstrate shorter build cycles through simpler assembly, better fixtures, and reduced rework; monitor process readiness, first-pass results, and corrective-action effectiveness.

Experience & Education

BS in manufacturing, mechanical, optical, or electrical engineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant technical experience; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years in manufacturing or process engineering for precision optical, electromechanical, or scientific equipment, including 3+ years managing technical teams.
Demonstrated experience taking engineering prototypes into repeat production through process qualification, fixture development, DfX, and controlled documentation.
Experience overseeing quality and corrective-action activities; quantum-hardware, photonics, or atomic-instrument manufacturing experience preferred.

Qualifications

Strong DfX judgment for precision optomechanical and electronic hardware, including tolerances, alignment sensitivity, contamination control, and service access.
Working knowledge of optical bonding and alignment, vacuum/mechanical assembly, and electronic production methods.
Experience qualifying manufacturing processes, fixtures, measurement methods, and operators for repeatable technical production.
Knowledge of first-article inspection, calibration, nonconformance control, root-cause analysis, and effective corrective action.
Ability to influence design decisions using build data and lead technical teams while keeping process ownership distinct from production execution.