Quality Engineer III

Role Purpose:

Support global optical fiber plants by enhancing supplier quality, from supplier selection to maintenance and performance improvement. Manage raw material specifications, monitor quality performance, and drive improvements through strategic projects. Lead the globalization of material specifications for fiber operations, replicating and standardizing best practices across the organization. Ensure that quality issues are addressed through improvement projects, evaluate the impact of changes on product attributes, and facilitate the onboarding of new suppliers or products for cost reduction and capacity expansion. Key responsibilities include identifying improvement initiatives, leading the development and execution of material or process improvement projects at suppliers, and leveraging knowledge of material specifications to introduce alternative material technologies. Must be able to work across various functional groups and maintain supplier COA, PPAP, quality performance audits, and relevant supplier quality systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead/assist in developing and executing material/process improvement and cost reduction projects to improve Fiber making efficiency and cost while ensuring retention of quality
• Direct the globalization of material specifications for fiber operations, implementing and standardizing best practices.
• Address quality issues caused by material performance through improvement projects, updating quality architecture when necessary.
• Evaluate the impact of product, process, and equipment changes on product attributes and quality architecture.
• Collaborate with Divisional Engineering and plants to onboard new suppliers/products for cost reduction and capacity increase via PPAP/CPEA processes.
• Monitor Coating Supply COA values for trends or shifts in performance, coordinating yearly verifications of COA test procedures with manufacturers.
• Serve as the primary contact with coating suppliers, including conducting yearly quality audits of manufacturing procedures.
• Lead efforts to identify vulnerabilities or quality issues, assign ownership, and ensure action implementation for improvement.
• Support understanding of process capability and product quality architecture.
• Collaborate with Product Engineering to ensure product and process qualification.
• Author and lead material improvement qualification plans globally for plants.
• Identify and support key initiatives for regional improvement, offering resources and expertise.
• Drive the development and execution of material/process improvement and cost reduction projects, ensuring quality retention.
• Leverage knowledge of material specifications to introduce alternate material technologies to plant production.
• Facilitate collaboration across Technology, Quality, and Division Engineering groups globally.
• Monitor and maintain supplier COA, PPAP, supplier quality performance audits, and relevant supplier quality systems.

Soft Skills:

• Strong team player with a proven ability to work in a team environment.
• Self-starter who can effectively manage uncertainty and change.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• Quick learner with a customer-focused mindset.
• Organized and able to multitask effectively.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Chemical, Ceramic, Mechanical, or Materials).
• 5+ years of industry experience in manufacturing, quality, or related fields.

Required Skills:

• Strong data collection and analysis abilities, with a basic understanding of statistics and control charts.
• Effective multitasking and issue resolution skills.
• Excellent facilitation skills to reach consensus within multi-functional groups.
• Independent worker capable of completing tasks with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work in technical project teams as both leader and contributor.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound decision-making capabilities.
• Intermediate in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and SharePoint.
• Effective project management abilities.
• Structured problem-solving skills (e.g., KT methodology).
• Familiarity with Quality Systems, audits, TL and ISO certifications, or equivalent standards.
• Ability to drive projects to successful closure.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with statistical packages like SAS or Minitab.
• Six Sigma Black Belt, Green Belt, or relevant DMAIC project experience.