Manufacturing QA Engineer
NetApp · Wichita, Kansas, United States; Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, United States · talentbrew
$216,700 – $216,700
Your contacts at NetApp (9)
Why You're a Fit
Job Description
Product Quality Engineer
Operations Engineering is NetApp’s Global Operations technical team that ensures our hardware platforms are designed for manufacturability and testability, ramp smoothly at partners, and deliver consistent quality in the field. The organization leads DFx/NPI, process and test engineering, product quality ownership, supplier collaboration, and compliance using data-driven methods to improve yield, reliability, and customer outcomes.
We’re seeking an experienced Manufacturing Quality Engineer to serve as the Product Quality Engineer for one or more product families. In this role, you’ll own product quality strategy and outcomes from new product introduction through full-rate manufacturing and field performance. You’ll lead cross-functional problem solving, define critical-to-quality requirements, deploy robust controls, and drive systemic improvements that reduce defects, escapes, and warranty/returns.
You are a hands-on technical leader who partners with Design, Manufacturing, Test, Supplier Quality, Reliability, and Customer teams to ensure products meet specifications, regulations, and customer expectations, every time.
Job Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Product Quality Ownership
- Serve as the single point of accountability for product quality across the lifecycle (NPI → production → field).
- Define CTQs, acceptance criteria, and quality plans aligned with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
- Lead PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, process validation, and risk mitigation activities.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
- Drive APQP elements (PPAP/FAI, capability studies, MSA/Gage R&R, process validation IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable).
- Collaborate with Design Engineering on DFM/DFA, tolerancing (GD&T), and test strategy to ensure manufacturability and yield.
Manufacturing Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Establish and maintain robust process controls (SPC, error-proofing, test coverage, traceability).
- Lead complex root cause analyses using 8D, DMAIC, and DOE; implement durable corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
- Own nonconformance management, MRB decisions, rework/repair instructions, and change control (ECN).
Data-Driven Performance
- Monitor product quality metrics (FPY, escapes/DPPM, Cpk/Ppk, yield, OEE, warranty/returns) and drive sustainable improvement.
- Build dashboards and reports; leverage statistical analysis to predict and prevent quality issues.
Supplier & Test Collaboration
- Partner with Supplier Quality to ensure incoming material/process capability; define incoming inspection criteria and FAIR/PPAP as needed.
- Collaborate with Test Engineering on coverage, correlation, false fail/escape reduction, and measurement system confidence.
Compliance & Standards
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, ISO 13485) and customer-specific requirements.
- Prepare audit evidence; lead product-related quality system improvements.
Leadership & Mentorship
- Act as a technical leader and mentor for junior engineers and technicians.
- Facilitate cross-functional quality reviews and represent product quality in customer, executive, and audit forums.
Education & Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field required (ABET-accredited program preferred).
- Master’s degree (MS/MEng) in an engineering discipline or a related field (e.g., Operations, Quality) is preferred.
- Formal training in statistics/quality engineering (SPC, MSA/Gage R&R, DOE) strongly preferred.
Experience
- Typically requires 8 or more years of related experience.
Preferred Industry Experience
- One or more of: automotive, aerospace/defense, electronics/semiconductor, industrial equipment, medical devices, energy or similar regulated manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with APQP/PPAP, AS9102 FAI, IPC/JEDEC, or device-specific standards (e.g., FDA/ISO 13485) depending on industry.
Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 145,350 - 216,700 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU’s), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.
At NetApp, we embrace a hybrid working environment designed to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture for all employees. This means that most roles will have some level of in-office and/or in-person expectations, which will be shared during the recruitment process.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
NetApp is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, protected veteran status, and any other protected classification.
Why You'll Thrive at NetApp
At NetApp, you won't wait for the perfect moment—you'll make it. The early planning, the extra thought, the bold idea that turns good into great: That's how our people operate and how we continue to push the boundaries of data infrastructure.
NetApp is the trusted partner for organizations transforming data into opportunity. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, we empower customers to run everything from traditional workloads to enterprise AI with unmatched performance, resilience, and security.
Our culture
We celebrate mold breakers, bold thinkers, and problem solvers. We reward initiative, impact, and ownership. We provide flexibility so you can balance professional ambition with your personal life. Here, differences are not just welcomed—they drive everything we do.
If you're ready to innovate, rise to the challenge, and own every moment - make your next move your best one. Apply now.