Quality Engineer II

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Quality Engineer? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!


Responsibilities

Quality Engineer II

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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we're building the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you'll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Quality Engineer II works collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues, defects, and process deviations to ensure products meet internal and customer specifications. This role applies solid quality engineering fundamentals to support manufacturing quality, process stability, and continuous improvement initiatives within a battery manufacturing environment. The Quality Engineer II operates with moderate supervision, independently managing routine assignments while escalating more complex issues as appropriate. The role primarily impacts individual projects or defined production areas.

Essential Duties:

Functional Operations:

• Applies working-level quality engineering knowledge to support the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality standards, procedures, and controls within assigned areas
• Supports small to medium quality and process improvement projects, assisting with scope definition, data collection, analysis, and execution of corrective actions
• Participates in quality and process improvement initiatives within assigned functional or production areas, collaborating closely with senior engineers

Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

• Investigates and resolves moderately complex quality and process issues using structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, A3, DMAIC) with guidance as needed
• Utilizes Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools to analyze process data, identify root causes, and support corrective and preventive actions
• Participates in the design and execution of experiments (e.g., DOE) to validate process changes and improvement effectiveness
• Works with cross-functional teams to support process optimization initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, reducing defects, and enhancing product quality
• Supports day-to-day containment actions, rapid countermeasures, and corrective actions within assigned production areas

Training & Team Support:

• Provides day-to-day technical support to Quality Specialists, Quality Technicians, and Quality Inspectors
• Assists with training activities related to quality tools, standards, inspection methods, and problem-solving techniques
• Contributes to a culture of continuous improvement by sharing best practices and supporting team-based improvement activities

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

• Collaborates with Quality Management, Operations, Engineering, and other cross-functional teams to proactively identify process inefficiencies and improvement opportunities within the battery manufacturing cycle
• Communicates investigation results, corrective actions, and improvement outcomes to team members and leadership within defined scope
• Generates routine reports on quality performance and process improvement activities, including key performance indicators (KPIs), for review by senior engineers and management
• Escalates risks, constraints, or unresolved quality issues to senior quality or management personnel as appropriate

Quality, Safety, & Compliance:

• Conducts routine audits, assessments, and inspections of manufacturing processes to verify compliance with quality standards and documented procedures
• Assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Quality Management System (QMS)
• Ensures work activities comply with applicable quality and regulatory standards (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, UL, CE, RoHS) within assigned responsibilities

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.


Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

Required :

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related discipline
• Six Sigma Green Belt (or progress toward certification)
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)

Essential Qualifications:

• 2+ years of relevant experience in quality engineering or related manufacturing environment, including laboratory or hands-on production support
• Proficient in statistical tools such as SPC, DOE, CAPA, and data-driven problem-solving techniques
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, control systems, and programming languages (e.g., Java, SQL, Python)
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a proactive and detail-oriented approach
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
• Self-motivated with sound judgment to support investigations and corrective actions under supervision
• Basic understanding of quality management systems and regulatory requirements (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, etc.)
• Willingness to learn, receive guidance, and contribute positively to team efforts
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in quality engineering or related roles in manufacturing, preferably in lithium-ion batteries, automotive, electronics, or other regulated industries
• Exposure to internal or external quality audits or certification processes
• Familiarity with advanced quality tools such as FMEA, MSA, control plans, and process capability analysis
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-volume, or regulated manufacturing environments

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Walk: 40%
• Stand: 50%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
• Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits - Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits - Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) - 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits - Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance - Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs -Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options : Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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