IQC Quality Engineer

Incoming Quality Engineer (IQE)

The Incoming Quality Engineer (IQE) is responsible for ensuring that supplier-provided components meet quality, reliability, and performance requirements in a high-precision manufacturing environment. This role supports supplier qualification, incoming inspection control, supplier corrective action management, and reliability verification to ensure a stable supply of high-quality materials for production.

The IQE works closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Reliability, and Manufacturing teams to evaluate supplier performance, resolve quality issues, and drive continuous improvement in supplier processes.

Supplier Qualification & Evaluation

• Support supplier evaluation and qualification to ensure vendors meet quality requirements
• Assist with supplier audits and supplier selection processes
• Evaluate supplier capability for precision optical and electronic components
• Verify supplier process controls, inspection systems, and reliability testing
• Support supplier approval, monitoring, and periodic re-evaluation programs

Incoming Quality Control (IQC) Management

• Manage incoming inspection standards and quality control for supplier materials used in manufacturing
• Monitor supplier quality performance using Statistical Process Control (SPC) and incoming inspection data
• Develop and maintain incoming inspection specifications
• Define inspection sampling plans and acceptance criteria
• Partner with Engineering to identify critical component parameters, including:
• Laser optical power
• Fiber alignment tolerances
• Lens focal distance
• Electrical characteristics

Supplier Issue Resolution

• Lead investigation and corrective actions for supplier-related defects
• Detect defects during incoming inspection or via customer feedback
• Issue Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCAR)
• Conduct root cause analysis using structured methodologies such as:
• 8D Problem Solving
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) meetings
• Support disposition decisions for non-conforming materials
• Verify effectiveness of corrective actions and maintain Non-Conforming Product (NCP) documentation

Supplier Process Improvement

• Collaborate with suppliers to improve manufacturing processes and product quality
• Review supplier process capability metrics (Cp/Cpk)
• Drive improvements in component quality and process stability
• Support process optimization initiatives
• Reduce contamination risks for sensitive components

Reliability & Qualification Testing

• Ensure supplier materials meet product reliability requirements
• Support reliability testing including:
• High temperature storage
• Temperature cycling
• Mechanical shock and vibration
• Lifetime testing

Supplier Performance Management

• Track and report supplier performance metrics, including:
• Defective Parts Per Million (DPPM)
• Supplier yield performance
• Corrective action response time
• Provide supplier quality data to Supply Chain and leadership for sourcing decisions

Cross-Functional Support

• Coordinate with internal teams to support product quality and manufacturing performance:
• Engineering – new component introduction and failure analysis
• Process Engineering – production yield improvement
• Reliability Engineering – material validation
• Procurement / Supply Chain – supplier performance monitoring

Control of Non-Conforming Incoming Materials

• Monitor and control defective incoming materials to prevent production impact
• Stop suspect lots during inspection
• Coordinate supplier corrective actions
• Analyze inspection and test data to determine conformance
• Audit supplier processes in accordance with internal policies
• Verify corrective actions prior to resuming shipments

Customer Complaint & RMA Support

• Support investigation of customer complaints and returned materials (RMA)
• Assist in documenting corrective actions within the RMA process
• Coordinate internal failure analysis
• Support customer issue resolution related to:
• High bit error rate
• Optical power degradation
• Link instability in network systems
• Monitor and analyze field performance metrics, including:
• Field Failure Rates (FFR)
• RMA rates
• Customer DPPM
• Reliability trends
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities as needed

Inspection & Test Equipment Knowledge

Metrology & Inspection Tools

• Optical microscopes
• Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
• Profilometers
• Optical comparators

Optical & Electrical Test Equipment

• Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA)
• Bit Error Rate Tester (BERT)
• Fiber end-face inspection microscope
• High-speed oscilloscope
• Digital Multimeter (DMM)

Environmental & Reliability Testing

• Environmental test chambers

Qualifications & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Optoelectronics, Physics, or related technical field preferred
• Experience in optical transceivers, photonics, semiconductor, or precision component manufacturing preferred

Key Skills

• Supplier quality management
• Root cause analysis (8D, FMEA)
• Incoming inspection and metrology
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Optical component handling and contamination control
• Cross-functional collaboration with Engineering and Supply Chain teams