Quality Engineer
As a Quality Engineer at our Kelso facility, you won’t just monitor compliance from a desk. You will be an operational problem-solver on the production floor, acting as the bridge between engineering, operations, and the customer. You will own the non-conformance lifecycle, drive structured root-cause investigations, and build repeatable quality processes into every build.
What You’ll Do
- Own Non-Conformance & Customer Resolution: Lead end-to-end complaint investigations and deviations. Move quickly to implement immediate containment and purges, then apply structured methods to isolate root causes and close verified CAPAs.
- Drive Process Compliance & Validation: Review and approve Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), process deviations, and Assembly Build Instructions (ABIs). Lead the development, documentation, and execution of site Master Validation Plans (IQ/OQ/PQ).
- Define Floor Inspection Strategies: Establish robust inspection gates across receiving, in-process assembly, pre-shipment, and out-of-box audits. Ensure complete Quality History Records and compliant Certificates of Compliance (CoCs).
- Champion Quality on the Shop Floor: Coach technicians, operators, and assembly associates on defect prevention and compliance standards. Audit training effectiveness and drive a proactive quality mindset across all shifts.
- Lead Audit Readiness: Support customer quality audits, internal assessments, and external surveillance/recertification audits for facility Quality Management Systems (QMS).
What We’re Looking For
- Technical Experience: Degree in an Engineering, Quality, or STEM discipline with 2+ years of hands-on quality or manufacturing experience (or an equivalent track record of technical floor experience).
- Structured Problem Solving: Practical proficiency applying systematic problem-solving frameworks (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone, DMAIC) and data analysis tools to solve complex technical defects.
- Standards & Process Control: Familiarity with high-reliability manufacturing quality standards (such as ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or AS9100) and electronic assembly acceptance standards (IPC-A-610 / J-STD-001).
- Experimental & Operational Design: Ability to design experiments (DOE), assess process capability/repeatability, and implement controls within economic and safety constraints.
- Communication & Influence: Confidence to act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), communicate transparently with external customers, and guide cross-functional teams under production deadlines.
Why Kelso?
Our Kelso site combines the agility of a dedicated manufacturing plant with the resources and stability of a global enterprise. Here, you will have visible ownership over your product lines, exposure to cutting-edge electronic manufacturing processes, and clear avenues to grow into Senior Quality Engineering or operational leadership roles.
Apply Today
Ready to take ownership of product quality in a high-consequence manufacturing environment? Submit your application today to join the Plexus engineering team in Kelso.
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