Quality Engineer

About the role

Vulcan Elements is committed to the production of American-made rare-earth permanent magnets, playing a vital role in fostering a secure and resilient future. Our focus is on enhancing national security and economic stability, serving critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive. We are in search of a Quality Engineer to establish and maintain quality processes within our Pilot manufacturing facility, ensuring adherence to ISO 9001 standards while facilitating swift advancements in both product and process development.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Serve as the main Quality representative for the Pilot manufacturing operations, ensuring quality standards are met consistently.
• Ensure that quality expectations are clearly understood and integrated into daily production processes.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing and Engineering teams to troubleshoot production issues and implement effective corrective actions.
• Lead investigations to identify root causes of quality issues and develop robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Work alongside Engineering and Operations to assess and manage nonconforming materials effectively.
• Create and maintain quality documentation, including procedures, work instructions, forms, and records, to support Pilot operations.
• Implement quality processes that comply with ISO 9001 standards, preparing the Pilot facility for certification.
• Assist with document control, change management, record retention, and risk management practices in manufacturing.
• Participate in internal audits and management reviews, ensuring that action items are tracked and completed.
• Develop production quality plans and establish inspection requirements for Pilot manufacturing.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing to pinpoint Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) characteristics.
• Create and maintain Control Plans that detail inspection points, sampling frequencies, and acceptance criteria.
• Partner with the Metrology Lead and Analytical Lab Lead to ensure appropriate measurement methods are utilized.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of digital manufacturing and quality systems, including MES, ERP, LIMS, and electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS).
• Improve traceability and data integrity throughout manufacturing processes.
• Help define system requirements for inspections, deviations, nonconforming materials, CAPA, document control, and production records, and engage in software testing and user training.
• Analyze production quality data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Develop dashboards and quality metrics to monitor the performance of the Pilot facility.
• Assist in standardizing manufacturing processes and best practices.
• Lead initiatives aimed at improving product quality, process consistency, efficiency, and traceability.
• Aid in preparing Pilot processes for a successful transition to Benson manufacturing.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for future reference.
• Contribute to the development of scalable production documentation and training materials.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering to enhance production readiness.

The responsibilities and tasks mentioned are not exhaustive and may evolve based on the needs of the organization.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing quality, production engineering, or quality systems; candidates with advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.) may have reduced experience requirements.
• Understanding of ISO 9001 principles and Quality Management Systems.
• Experience supporting production operations in a manufacturing setting.
• Competence in drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis techniques and corrective action processes.
• Strong skills in statistical analysis and problem-solving.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication abilities.

Nice to have

• Experience in manufacturing start-up or scale-up environments.
• Knowledge of MES, ERP, LIMS, or eQMS platforms.
• Experience with document control and electronic workflows.
• Proficiency in analyzing manufacturing data using tools like Excel, Power BI, or similar software.
• Background in advanced materials, battery technology, semiconductors, magnets, or other high-tech manufacturing sectors.

Practical notes

Candidates must be U.S. Persons due to the necessity of accessing U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.