Our mission is to develop innovative laser solutions to make the world a better place. To accomplish this mission, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent and an engaged and thriving workforce that drives a sustainable future for our company and society.
Working at IPG Photonics you can expect challenging projects, a motivating and friendly environment, and competitive benefits.
Job Summary
The Senior Quality Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving the Quality Management System (QMS) and quality processes for precision electro‑mechanical‑optical products in an ISO 9001–certified manufacturing environment. This role partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure product quality, process capability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.
Responsible for collaborating with suppliers, development teams, and manufacturing teams to perform QA activities. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting new design and ensuring quality standards are met throughout the product lifecycle.
The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience with complex laser systems, optical assemblies, and high‑precision manufacturing processes, and is comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, high‑reliability production environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Customer Management
- Quality point of contact for customers
- Support customer SCAR processes.
- Handle track and manage internal NCMRs, CAPAs, and complaint corrective actions.
- Manufacturing & Process Support
- Lead investigations of nonconforming material, customer complaints, and field issues.
- Provide sustaining support for process improvements and design changes transitioning into manufacturing.
- Assist in design transfer activities and maintain manufacturing documentation (Validations, assembly drawings, procedures, DHRs, routers, BOMs, specifications).
- Support NRTL (National recognized testing laboratories) and other regulatory functions inspections and submissions.
- Material & Product Quality
- Investigate and disposition material nonconformances; participate in MRB meetings and follow up on supplier issues (Internal and external).
- Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect reduction, yield improvement, and process capability.
- Support Lean, Six Sigma, and risk‑based thinking initiatives.
- Mentor and guide junior quality engineers and inspectors as needed.
- Validation & Risk Assessment
- Evaluate proposed changes to processes, equipment, or materials for business, quality and customer impact.
- Lead the generation of DFMEA and PFMEA for products and processes.
- Generate and review process validation activities and report documentation (Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams)
- Calibration & Documentation
- Assist with risk impact assessments for out-of-tolerance events.
- Develop and revise procedures, work instructions, and test methods.
- Quality Systems & Compliance
- Maintain and continuously improve the ISO 9001–compliant Quality Management System
- Document activities in compliance with ISO-9000 standards and product regulatory regulations for compliance and safety.
- Lead investigations into quality issues, complaints, and audit findings.
- Support CAPA processes and promote QMS awareness and improvement initiatives.
- Create and modify quality systems documents related to process, risk, inspection and quality metric monitoring.
- Act as a subject matter expert on quality system requirements and best practices.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Use root cause analysis and problem-solving tools to implement corrective actions.
- Make data-driven decisions and propose solutions based on calculated risks.
Key Competencies
- Attention to detail and strong analytical skills
- Structured problem solving and risk‑based thinking
- Cross‑functional leadership and influence
- Clear, professional communication
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field.
- 5–7 years of manufacturing and quality experience within the electro-mechanical equipment industry.
- Optics and/or consumer product experience a plus.
- Experience with statistical analysis and quality improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma) is a plus.
Required Skills and Abilities
- Experience with precision electro-mechanical or optical assemblies preferred.
- Working knowledge of statistical methods and software tools (e.g., Minitab) for data analysis.
- Working knowledge of ISO-9001 design, development and manufacturing activities.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Strong documentation skills for protocol, report generation and review.
- Ability to analyze quality data and trends to identify improvement opportunities.
Key Competencies
- Attention to detail and strong analytical skills
- Structured problem solving and risk‑based thinking
- Cross‑functional leadership and influence
- Clear, professional communication
- Continuous improvement mindset
MA: $93,039 - 123,227
Skills Required
- B.S. or higher in Computer Science or equivalent
- 2+ years professional experience in software development
- Understanding of Object-Oriented Design and Programming
- Knowledge of Software Design patterns
- Strong understanding of distributed systems and concurrent programming
- Strong understanding of multithreading concepts
- Strong debugging skills at an overall system level
- Knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC)
- Experience with source code control tools such as SVN/Microsoft TFS/GIT
IPG Photonics Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about IPG Photonics and has not been reviewed or approved by IPG Photonics.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan offers a 15% discount with a lookback feature and is available in the U.S. and Germany. This broad-based equity program is consistently highlighted as a standout component of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO typically starts around three weeks with growth over tenure, alongside roughly 10–12 paid holidays and noted carryover options. Time-off policies are often viewed as a strong part of the package.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Annual bonuses are emphasized as a meaningful part of total compensation. Company materials and role descriptions explicitly include bonuses as part of the offering.
IPG Photonics Insights
What We Do
IPG Photonics is the world leader in fiber laser technology, offering solutions for applications across a wide array of industries. Headquartered in Marlborough, USA, the company has developed a robust, vertically integrated supply chain, developing key technology components in-house, thus enabling the most reliable, powerful, and efficient laser solutions. With over 30 locations across the globe, we are committed to developing innovative products that provide reliable, cost-effective solutions for our customers’ needs.
