Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

Join Kyocera International, Inc.

We’re hiring a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer at our San Diego, CA location!

Join a stable, long-term opportunity where your work matters. We’re hiring a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer to support production and ensure high-quality output in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.

Pay Range - $95,000 to $123,000 annually (Actual base pay based on factors such as relevant experience, education, market, qualifications, and skills.) 

With nearly 80,000 employees globally, Kyocera is a leading manufacturer of high-tech ceramics in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, Medical applications, and semiconductor processing. Our innovative materials are found in everything from smartphones to space shuttles! Check out our profile video!     

Look at these PERKS!     

• Competitive pay, benefits, and hours
• 120 hours of vacation accrued per year to start (that's 3 weeks/year for regular 8-hour shifts!)
• 10 Paid Holidays per year
• 401(k) with company match
• Pension
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible schedules
• Tuition reimbursement 

We have a long-tenured staff (many with over 30 years of service!), a vital company mission, and an excellent benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off to volunteer, paid leave options, tuition reimbursement, an employer-paid Pension and a 401(k) with both Roth and a healthy company match. Our larger locations also feature onsite gyms, walking tracks, exercise rooms, and employee gardens! 

We strive to have a diverse workforce from all backgrounds, including minorities, women, and veterans, who bring their experience to support the innovation and quality that Kyocera is known for.    

Kyocera International, Inc. also has a robust corporate culture and philosophy based on the experiences and writings of our founder, Dr. Kazuo Inamori, which you can learn more about here: https://global.kyocera.com/inamori/philosophy/. Our company motto is “Do the right thing as a human being,” and we try to use that motto constantly in our decision-making.    

Exempt: Yes

Safety Sensitive: Yes

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

In conjunction with Senior Quality Manager, this position helps drive culture change towards a Quality-infused organization.  The Senior Quality Engineer contributes to the development of project requirements based on corporate policies and strategies and uses independent judgment to influence decisions and timelines.  Directs and coordinates activities to meet the technical, labor, and administrative requirements of multiple projects. Receives assignments and determines how to use resources to meet schedules and goals. May personally assist with project implementation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Prevent repeat issues:

• Lead investigations, drive Root Cause analysis

• Deep dive into internal audit findings and Internal Corrective Action Reports to identify recurring themes

2. Special Projects: Drive implementation of new software and equipment (including training and documentation as needed).

• Collect project-related information from various internal resources.

• Coordinate with key stakeholders.

• Establish project objectives, budget requirements, timelines, labor requirements, and resource planning.

• Establish “hand-off” criteria (i.e. clearly define what conditions must be in place to close the project)

• Maintain schedules, budgets, requirements, minutes, risk analysis, and mitigation plans.

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously

• May recommend, evaluate, and test new software, hardware, and problem-solving methods.  Use ability to independently assess and articulate options, risks, and trade-offs.

3. Training resource for

• control plans

• FMEAs

• 8D

• 5 Whys

4. Perform as an individual contributor to monitor, document, and report project status regularly to plant management and affected parties.

5. Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders

• Ability to prioritize workload, and meet deadlines

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, while also successfully executing independent assignments

• Analytical and creative problem-solving skills

• Ability to identify and evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal control processes

• Ability to identify areas for improvement and recommend solutions

• Ability to assess risks

• Ability to formalize audit observations and draft reports

REQUIREMENTS

• Four-year technical degree (e.g. Bachelor's in Engineering or other technical field)

• 5 years minimum experience in manufacturing and/or training in the form of an advanced degree.

• Must have a thorough understanding of company processes and appropriate technical knowledge, or experience in a related industry.

• Working knowledge of project management principles is required.

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Microsoft Office especially Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to positively influence various resources without direct line management responsibility.

• Frequently interacts with supervisors and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas or other company divisions or units.

• Eligible to work in an ITAR Environment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general supervision where standard practice enables the employee to proceed alone on routine work, referring questionable cases to the supervisor.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT, AND/OR COMPUTERS

Regular use of complex machines and equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software, production equipment, etc.)

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Contacts of considerable importance within the department or office, such as those required in coordination of effort, or frequent contacts with other departments or offices, in the normal course of performing duties. Requires tact in discussing problems and presenting data and making recommendations, but responsibility for action and decision reverts to others.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED

Basic: Enterprise Resource Planning, Presentation/PowerPoint, Spreadsheet

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee

encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The above statements are intended to describe the work being performed by the people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. The duties and responsibilities of this position are subject to change and other duties may be assigned or removed at any time.

This position may require exposure to information subject to US export control regulations, i.e. the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

Kyocera International, Inc. values diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an AAP/EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or the basis of disability.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact Kyocera International, Inc.'s Human Resources team directly. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.