Principal Quality Engineer

Role Summary

As Principal Quality Engineer based in Aachen, you are the technical authority for quality across our optical product line and regional quality lead for European operations.

You will bridge HQ (San Jose) and the Aachen manufacturing site, drive quality integration for in-house optical manufacturing, lead supplier quality for regional semiconductor and optical vendors, and support Asia-based RMA activities for in-region products.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality‑System Integration

Lead ISO 9001 alignment between San Jose HQ, Aachen, and other regional locations to harmonize procedures, audit schedules, and corrective action processes across both semiconductor and optical product lines.

Process Development & Implementation

Design, document, and roll out new quality processes, procedures, and work instructions needed to support emerging photonics products and manufacturing capabilities.

In‑Process Inspection & Controls

Oversee in‑process inspection activities for the in‑house manufacturing operation, establishing SPC, go/no‑go checkpoints, and real‑time defect‑tracking dashboards.

Supplier Quality (Optics)

Provide technical support and quality assurance for optical‑component and optical‑coating suppliers; conduct supplier audits, and drive corrective‑preventive actions (CAPA).

Supplier Quality (Semiconductor)

Serve as the regional point of contact for semiconductor suppliers, monitoring supplier performance, assisting with supplier audits, and leading issue resolution.

Product Quality

Core Semiconductor Business – Lead technical investigation of field returns, warranty claims, and reliability failures for semiconductor and optical products; coordinate 8D root-cause analysis and interface with Field Application Engineers (FAEs).

Cross‑Site Liaison

Act as the primary conduit between the Aachen site, other European/EMEA sites, and the San Jose HQ for quality information exchange, escalation handling, and best‑practice sharing.

Metrics & Reporting

Define, track, and report key quality KPIs (PPM, DPMO, warranty cost, MTBF, supplier defect rate, etc.) to senior leadership across the BU and corporate HQ.

Quality Improvement

Lead and demonstrate the application of advanced quality improvement techniques including Lean, Six‑Sigma, and other methods to reduce waste, improve yield, and enhance overall product reliability.

Education & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's in electrical engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related discipline
• 10+ years in quality engineering with progression to senior/principal level
• Minimum 5 years in semiconductor, photonics, or precision optics manufacturing

Preferred

• Master's or PhD in Engineering
• 15+ years with demonstrated leadership in multi-site organizations
• Direct experience with optical module qualification (Telcordia GR-468)

Technical Skills

Required

• Expert-level ISO 9001 implementation and multi-site QMS integration
• Advanced statistical methods: SPC, DOE, MSA, FMEA (Design & Process)
• Supplier quality management including audits, scorecards, CAPA/SCAR
• Experience with optical metrology (interferometry, power meters, spectrometers, alignment systems)

Preferred

• Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ CQE/CQM, or Lean certification
• Proficiency in Minitab, JMP, Python, or R for data analysis
• Familiarity with JEDEC, IPC, Telcordia reliability standards
• Industry 4.0 quality tools (AI-based defect detection, digital twin, automated optical inspection)

Core Competencies

Required

• Fluency in English and German (written and spoken)
• Strong cross-functional leadership and influence without authority
• Excellent technical communication to engineering and executive audiences
• Comfort with ambiguity in fast-paced, high-growth environments
• Willingness to travel (up to 20–25%, including Asia and North America)

Preferred

• Additional European language
• Experience managing quality engineers or cross-site teams
• Track record presenting to C-level stakeholders
• Experience in startup or rapid-scale environments
• Existing relationships with European optical/semiconductor supply base