Quality Engineer (Austin, TX)

Own incoming inspection, in-process, and final quality for assigned commodities, sub-assemblies, and finished product

Partner with the supply chain team to qualify new suppliers — on-site audits, first-article inspections (FAI), PPAP-style submissions, and process capability reviews

Develop inspection plans, control plans, and acceptance criteria for purchased parts and in-house manufactured components

Lead root-cause investigations (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa) on supplier defects and internal manufacturing non-conformances; drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to closure

Manage the non-conformance (NCR) and supplier corrective action request (SCAR) processes end-to-end

Partner with design engineering on DFM/DFA reviews and help translate design intent into manufacturable, inspectable specifications (GD&T, critical-to-quality features)

Track and report quality metrics — PPM, first-pass yield, cost of poor quality, supplier scorecards — and use them to drive improvement

Support new product introduction (NPI) from prototype through production ramp, including process validation and pilot builds

Build and maintain quality documentation: inspection procedures, work instructions, quality records, and calibration programs

Help stand up and evolve Exowatt's quality management system (QMS) — we're early enough that you'll shape it, not just operate inside it

Partner closely with the Reliability Engineering team to feed manufacturing and supplier quality data into failure analysis and design improvements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Aerospace, or a related engineering field

5+ years of quality engineering experience in a hardware manufacturing environment

Hands-on experience with supplier quality — audits, FAI, PPAP, SCARs, and supplier development

Working knowledge of root-cause methodologies (8D, 5-Why, fishbone) and statistical tools (SPC, Cpk, MSA, DOE basics)

Fluency with GD&T and the ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings

Experience with metrology and inspection tools (CMM, calipers, micrometers, optical comparators, etc.)

Deep experience with ISO 9001 and the fundamentals of building or operating a QMS

Clear technical writing and the ability to communicate findings to suppliers, engineers, and leadership

Willingness to travel to supplier facilities domestically and occasionally internationally

Experience in energy, aerospace, automotive, industrial equipment, or other regulated/high-reliability hardware industries

Exposure to welded or brazed assemblies, pressure vessels, high-temperature materials, thermal storage systems, or rotating machinery relevant to the P3 system

ASQ certification (CQE, CQA, or CSSBB)

Deep Experience standing up a QMS at an early-stage company, or taking one from ISO 9001 toward AS9100, ISO 14001, or similar

Six Sigma Green or Black Belt

Experience with ERP/MES/QMS platforms (NetSuite, Arena, Propel, or similar)

Experience building a quality function from scratch at an early-stage hardware company