Customer Quality Engineer

Bold Thinking. World Changing. At SkyWater, our ingenuity helps improve lives around the world by manufacturing U.S. made semiconductors that are essential ingredients of modern life. Automotive safety enhancements, life-saving medical devices, consumer electronics and American security require semiconductors. Working in our Minnesota headquarters, Florida, or Texas location — employees join together to improve the world. 

Explore what’s possible. Joining our U.S. - based team means contributing to and learning about the commercialization of some of the most exciting technologies the world has ever seen. We are turning “science fiction” into everyday reality through technologies such as superconducting, 3D integrated circuits or computer chips, carbon nanotubes, photonic logic devices, micro electro-mechanical systems and other emerging device topologies. We manufacture products for aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, consumer and industrial markets, to name a few. Our customers include emerging leaders who rely on our intellectual property security and quality manufacturing services.

Step into the future. SkyWater’s values of Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, Empowerment and Growth Mindset guide us to cultivate an empowered, learning environment. We also invest in developing highly skilled, dedicated employees — and employees who are entering the workforce for the first time, from the military, and a variety of educational backgrounds. 

Are you bold thinking? Find your place on our team and help us change the world!

SkyWater is hiring a Senior Customer Quality Assurance Engineer to join our dynamic team to support wafer services in Austin, TX.  This role will serve as the primary Quality interface between SkyWater and our customers, ensuring product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. This role drives effective problem resolution, supports continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry quality standards. The ideal candidate will have customer quality engineering experience in the semiconductor industry.

Major Areas of Accountability:

Customer Quality Management

• Serve as the internal and external customer-facing quality representative, working with customers to address inquiries, requests, quality concerns and more.
• Build strong customer relationships through responsive communication, technical expertise, and timely issue resolution.
• Support customer QBRs.
• Lead customer-facing corrective action activities, including 8D responses, root cause investigations, and containment actions.
• Ensure customer expectations and contractual quality requirements are consistently met.

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

• Investigate and determine source of potential defects related to wafer fabrication processes, technology transfers, product development, manufacturing excursions or FARs.
• Implement effective structured problem-solving techniques, 8D corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies, including 5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA, SPC, DOE, and statistical analysis techniques.
• Work cross-functionally with manufacturing, process engineering, yield engineering, reliability, and operations teams to resolve customer-related issues.

Manufacturing & Process Quality Support

• Support nonconforming material review and disposition activities.
• Participate in process change reviews and assess customer quality impacts.
• Support transfer and development activities for customer processes within the fab.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Support and maintain compliance with quality management systems and standards: ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
• Participate in internal audits, customer audits, and external certification audits.
• Maintain accountability for assigned procedures, quality documentation, and records.
• Support risk management activities and implementation of quality system improvements.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and communicate customer quality metrics, scorecards, trend analyses, and status reports.
• Ensure the top Pareto Analysis items of our customer-facing metrics have activity to improve/reduce.
• Lead cross-functional quality improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• BS in a STEM discipline or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 5+ years of quality engineering, including customer quality experience.
• Working knowledge of semiconductor wafer fabrication processes, preferably in a 200mm or 300mm fab environment.
• Understanding of quality standards: ISO 9001, IATF 16949.
• Experience with SPC, DOE, MSA, FMEA, CAPA, and statistical analysis methodologies.
• Understanding of risk management principles and implementation of effective corrective actions.
• Experience auditing manufacturing quality processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and statistical/data analysis software such as JMP, Minitab, or equivalent.
• U.S. Person Required: This position requires compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All accepted applicants must be U.S. Persons. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, Political Asylee, or Refugee. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in semiconductor foundry, specialty semiconductor, MEMS, mixed-signal, photonics. 
• Knowledge of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and manufacturing systems.
• Certified auditor to one or more applicable standards (ISO 9001, IATF 16949).
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma certification, or equivalent quality certification.
• AIAG FMEA knowledge and application experience.
• Experience reviewing customer quality requirements and contracts.
• PMP certification or formal project management experience.

SkyWater offers an exciting environment where the brightest semiconductor minds come together to achieve exceptional results. We offer competitive salary and an opportunity to participate in incentive plans as well other employee financial benefits including 401k match, life insurance and opportunities to purchase SkyWater stock at a discounted rate. 

Additionally, SkyWater offers a comprehensive benefits package which promotes a healthy life. This includes benefit eligibility day one, medical, dental, mental health benefits, vision, legal planning, short- and long-term disability, paid time off, paid holidays, an on-site cafeteria, fitness facility, and self-serve market. 

SkyWater complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Alternative methods of applying for employment are available to individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability. To request reasonable accommodations, to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at 952-851-5200 or [email protected]. 

EOE, including disability/vets   

We will never ask applicants to pay fees, purchase equipment or gift cards, or provide financial information before a formal offer of employment has been accepted. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to represent our company, please verify its authenticity by contacting our recruitment team at [email protected] before responding. 

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