Performance & Biomechanics Quality Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Performance & Biomechanics Quality Engineer

(Mid-Level | 3–8 Years Experience)

Location: Dover, NH
Department: Quality
Reports To: Director of Quality
Travel: 10–20%

Position Summary

We are seeking a Performance & Biomechanics Quality Engineer to support the validation, structural durability, and load-transfer performance of NEMO’s body-interface and load-bearing products, including backpacks, carry systems, camp furniture, and sleeping platforms.

This role combines applied biomechanics with core quality engineering responsibilities to ensure products meet performance, durability, and manufacturing standards from development through production launch and post-market performance.

The ideal candidate has 3–8 years of experience in performance validation, biomechanics, or mechanical quality engineering within consumer goods such as footwear, athletic equipment, load-bearing gear, or technical outdoor products.

This is a hands-on engineering role that bridges Product Development, Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality to ensure performance is engineered in — not tested in after failure.

Key Responsibilities1. Biomechanical Performance Validation

• Develop and execute test protocols evaluating load transfer, pressure distribution, fatigue, and structural integrity.
• Analyze shoulder, lumbar, and pelvic load bias in carry systems.
• Evaluate seat geometry, recline mechanisms, and dynamic loading in furniture platforms.
• Conduct pressure mapping and cyclic load testing to identify stress concentration and long-term deformation risks.
• Establish performance benchmarks against competitive products.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts for in-house biomechanical laboratory capabilities

2. Quality Engineering Integration

• Lead DFMEA sessions focused on structural, fatigue, and load-bearing risks.
• Define Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) and Critical-to-Performance (CTP) characteristics for load-bearing systems.
• Develop validation plans aligned with product risk levels.
• Support Design for Quality (DFQ) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) initiatives.
• Establish product acceptance criteria and inspection plans.

3. Supplier & Manufacturing Quality

• Review and validate supplier testing data.
• Participate in first article inspections for critical components.
• Support process capability studies (Cp/Cpk) for critical characteristics.
• Ensure production variation does not compromise biomechanical intent.
• Assist in developing control plans for high-risk structural features.

4. Failure Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support root cause analysis related to design or production quality issues.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) with Suppliers when warranted.
• Correlate lab testing with field returns and warranty data.
• Contribute to Cost of Quality reduction initiatives.

QualificationsEducation

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomechanics, Manufacturing Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.

Experience (3–8 Years)

• Experience in biomechanics, product performance engineering, or mechanical quality engineering.
• Experience testing load-bearing systems preferred.
• Familiarity with fatigue testing, cyclic loading, and structural validation.
• Experience in consumer goods manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality systems.

Technical Skills

• Understanding of load paths and force vectors.
• Knowledge of torque, bending moments, fatigue, cyclic failure, material creep, and compression set.
• Experience with tensile/compression testing and cyclic load testing.
• Familiarity with SPC, trend analysis, and root cause methodologies (5 Why, Fishbone).

Core Competencies

• Strong mechanical reasoning.
• Data-driven mindset.
• Hands-on test execution.
• Ability to convert performance insight into production controls.
• Cross-functional communication skills.
• Bias toward prevention over reaction.

What Success Looks Like

• Reduced structural warranty claims.
• Clear fatigue standards for carry systems.
• DFMEA depth for load-bearing components.
• Defined CTQs for structural assemblies.
• Strong supplier alignment on performance targets.