Quality Engineer - Lake Elsinore - POLYMER CONCEPTS TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Description

Quality Engineer

Job Summary

Provides quality engineering and hands-on quality support to ensure inspections, validation activities, nonconformances, and quality records are effective, compliant, and completed on time across the Apple Valley and Ontario manufacturing facilities. Supports receiving, in-process, first piece, final inspection, and AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAIR) activities as needed. Supports calibration and document control interfaces, technical contract review, IQ/OQ/PQ validation, RCCA, NC and CAPA management, MRB activities, and quality performance reporting. Ensures compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards while performing inspection and quality engineering functions as required.

This position is an individual contributor role with no direct supervisory or personnel management responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions

Support day-to-day QC activities and provide hands-on inspection support across receiving, in-process, first piece, final inspection, and AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAIR) activities as needed to support workload, production schedules, or customer requirements across Apple Valley and Ontario facilities.

Develop and maintain inspection plans and risk-based inspection strategies based on product requirements, process risk, historical performance, and customer or regulatory requirements.

Prepare, review, and support AS9102 FAIR packages, including dimensional verification, objective evidence collection, and documentation completeness.

Program, operate, and support calibration of measurement and test equipment, including CMM, optical, laser, and multisensory systems, support calibration system compliance.

Support document control activities and maintain inspection records, validation files, calibration logs, nonconformance records, CAPA documentation, FAIR packages, and KPI data in a compliant state to support audit readiness.

Support technical quality review of customer contracts, purchase orders, and flowed-down requirements to identify applicable inspection, validation, documentation, and compliance obligations.

Support compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 through inspection practices, validation activities, documentation discipline, and technical quality awareness.

Support and/or develop IQ, OQ, and PQ validation activities for equipment, tooling, processes, and process changes, including protocol development, execution support, documentation, and reporting.

Lead and support Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) activities and manage assigned Nonconformances (NCs) and CAPAs from initiation through investigation, corrective action implementation, verification of effectiveness, and closure.

Support Material Review Board (MRB) activities through technical evaluation, data analysis, risk assessment, documentation, and disposition support.

Serve as a technical interface for customer quality issues and complaints, including investigation support, data analysis, corrective action development, and preparation of technical responses in coordination with Quality Management.

Analyze inspection, quality, and process data to identify trends and systemic risks; recommend and support corrective and preventive actions.

Develop, maintain, analyze, and report quality KPIs, and provide trend analysis and data-driven insights to Quality Management and cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement and Management Review.

Support customer portal submissions related to inspection data, FAIRs, validations, NCs, CAPAs, KPI reporting, and customer complaint responses.

Support internal and external audits by preparing objective evidence, explaining technical decisions, and supporting corrective action responses.

Perform advanced inspection and quality engineering activities, including AS9102 FAIR, APQP, PPAP, and programming of CMM / Optical / Laser systems, as required.

Provide technical input and support for quality and inspection training, including development or review of training materials related to inspection methods, measurement systems, FAIR, validation, and quality system requirements.

Additional Duties

Spreadsheets and dashboards for quality and inspection data

Customer portals and quality reporting tools

Calibration management system support and standard inspection activities

Equipment and software consistent with inspection and quality engineering responsibilities

Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to meet business needs

Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)

Timely processing of inspection, validation, NC, CAPA, FAIR, and quality documentation

Inspection and quality record accuracy 99%

Calibration past-due items = 0 (for assigned systems and equipment)

Nonconformances documented within 24 hours; CAPA effectiveness and closure within defined targets

Audit readiness no major findings related to inspection, validation, documentation, NCs, CAPA, FAIR, or calibration support

Effective KPI reporting and trend analysis supporting continuous improvement and management review

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required

Bachelor's degree strongly preferred in Engineering, Quality, Materials Science, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent combination of education and directly applicable experience)

Strong mechanical drawing interpretation, GD&T, and metrology fundamentals

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and standard reporting/documentation tools

5+ years of experience in manufacturing and/or quality, operating in a technical, hands-on capacity consistent with the essential job functions (e.g., metrology systems, AS9102 FAIR, IQ/OQ/PQ validation, RCCA, NC/CAPA, MRB support, KPI reporting, QMS documentation)

OR

3+ years of experience with direct exposure to plastic compression molding and/or precision plastic machining and seal applications, including dimensional verification, process/validation support, and structured problem-solving (RCCA/CAP

Accountability for assigned quality engineering responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Inspection planning and execution

AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAIR) preparation and review

GD&T application and interpretation

Customer and quality portal usage

Calibration system awareness

IQ / OQ / PQ validation support

Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) facilitation

Nonconformance, CAPA, and MRB processes

QMS compliance (AS9100 / ISO 9001

Clear and effective communication of quality requirements and findings

Organization and prioritization of multiple quality and inspection tasks

Analytical, data-driven problem solving

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during inspections and testing

Occasional lifting of materials or equipment up to 50 lbs.

Frequent use of hands and arms to operate precision measurement instruments

Work performed in laboratory and production floor environments

Regular use of required PPE (safety glasses, gloves, lab coats, etc.)

Possible exposure to chemicals, solvents, polymers, and other materials handled per SDS

May require occasional off-shift, weekend, or inter-facility support to meet customer or production needs

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions

Work Environment

Manufacturing and production environments with exposure to machinery, equipment, and moderate noise levels

Frequent interaction with cross-functional teams on the production floor at Apple Valley and Ontario facilities

Required use of PPE in designated areas

Occasional overtime or travel between facilities based on production and customer needs

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing essential job functions

Technical collaboration across operations, engineering, and quality teams

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this function.

Export Control / ITAR Compliance Statement (if applicable)

This position may require access to information and items subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Access to such information is restricted to U.S. persons as defined under applicable law. Employment in this position is contingent upon the candidate's ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements and, where applicable, the company's ability to obtain any required authorization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Polymer Concepts Technologies PBY, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with business needs.

Compensation details: 95000-108000

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