Quality Engineer

Job Description:

Company Overview BIRNS, Inc., established in 1954, is an AS9100 certified global leader in the design and manufacturing of high-performance underwater connectors, subsea cable assemblies subsea lighting, dive lights and nuclear facility lighting. With a commitment to quality and innovation, we serve critical applications in deep ocean, marine, military, and nuclear power sectors.

Summary BIRNS is seeking a Quality Engineer to join our team at BIRNS, Inc. This role is pivotal in ensuring the highest standards of quality for our products. Located in the United States, you will contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional performance and reliability in our lighting and connector systems. We manufacture cable assemblies for subsea applications and are looking for a hands-on Quality Engineer to join our team.

This is a critical role responsible for maintaining product quality, driving corrective actions, and improving our manufacturing processes. You will work directly on the production floor alongside our assembly technicians and report to Quality Manager. We are looking for someone who is strong on quality fundamentals and soldering workmanship. If you come from aerospace, defense, or military cable assembly, your background translates directly to what we do —subsea-specific processes including polyurethane overmolding.

The Quality Engineer (QE) is accountable for the overall quality of products delivered, services to customers ensuring all quality controls are met. The QE is responsible for developing a complete QA program that not only safeguards the quality and performance of our products, but also fosters a culture in which all employees are actively engaged in guaranteeing it by building an unwavering commitment to meticulous production, taking our products to the next level of quality, performance, and safety.

The QE engages continuous improvement activity and resources to identify and eliminate cost drivers, identify and eliminate work flow disruptions and establishes effective problem reporting and problem-solving methods so that goods are produced in a process-controlled and cost-effective manner, delivering zero-defect products on time. The QE will have customer and product quality responsibilities in addition to the general responsibilities outlined.

The ideal candidate will have experience in implementing quality assurance practices, conducting audits, analyzing data and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action investigations for internal nonconformances, customer complaints, and field failures
• Plan and execute process validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) for new or modified manufacturing processes including soldering, overmolding, and connector termination
• Support product validation including First Article Inspection, design verification testing, and qualification testing to confirm products meet customer and specification requirements
• Develop, review, and maintain work instructions and inspection procedures for cable assembly operations including soldering, overmolding, and connector termination
• Monitor and improve manufacturing processes with a focus on J-STD soldering workmanship and quality
• Conduct in-process and final inspections to ensure product meets drawing and specification requirements
• Support internal audits and maintain compliance with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management system requirements
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce defects, scrap, and rework
• Interface with customers and suppliers on quality matters including First Article Inspections, deviation requests, and supplier corrective actions
• Maintain quality records and generate reports on key quality metrics

• Demonstrates initiative to work efficiently and to streamline processes.
• Receives little instruction on day-to-day work, general instructions on new assignments.
• Has a full understanding of one's specialization and uses professional concepts and company objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways.
• Strong written/verbal communication, analytical, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well as both an individual contributor and as a member of a team.
• Able to excel in a…