Quality Engineer - Ouster

The Quality Engineerwill be a key contributor to Ouster's mission by driving world-class quality throughout the entire product lifecycle of our cutting-edge lidar sensors, from initial design to mass production and customer use. This role will focus on ensuring the quality, reliability, and manufacturability of our electromechanical, optical, and software-enabled systems in a high-volume manufacturing environment within Ouster and at Ouster’s Contract Manufacturing Partners. This role requires the candidate to have thorough knowledge of the quality core tools and should be able to implement them within Ouster and at Ouster’s Contract Manufacturing Partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Process Quality & Improvement:
  • Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) processes (e.g., ISO 9001/IATF 16949 compliance) specifically for the contract manufacturing of lidar sensors and cameras.
  • Maintain operational excellence by monitoring day-to-day process control through a rigorous process audit framework.
  • Able to demonstrate control and establish requirements to contract manufacturing partners
• Quality issues & Corrective Action (CAPA):
  • Demonstrate problem solving capabilities - able to isolate noise from actual problems based on data.
  • Lead and document Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for internal non-conformances using industry-standard tools (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams).
  • Demonstrate drive for the implementation of effective Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to eliminate recurrence of quality issues across design and manufacturing.
• NPI, Process & Product Quality:
  • Facilitate Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), including Design FMEA (DFMEA) and Process FMEA (PFMEA).
  • Develop and maintain the control plan, process flow chart, work instructions, and quality inspection sheets.
  • Define and review product quality inspection plans, and specifications for complex opto-mechanical and electronic components.
• Contract Manufacturing Relationship Management:
  • Build and maintain a strong working relationship with the contract manufacturer, acting as the primary point of contact for all quality-related matters. Facilitate communication and collaboration to resolve quality issues swiftly and effectively.
• Supplier Quality:
  • Support Supplier Quality Engineering activities, including component quality issue feedback, and monitoring supplier quality performance with contract manufacturing.
  • Ensure incoming materials meet specifications through robust inspection plans.
• Reporting & Metrics:
  • Generate and present quality metrics, process audit findings trends, and the contract manufacturer's quality reports to management and cross-functional teams.
• Training and Development:
  • Provide training and guidance to contract manufacturer personnel on quality standards, inspection techniques, and best practices to foster a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Qualifications Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience as a Quality Engineer or Supplier Quality Engineer in a high-tech hardware or Electronics assembly industry (e.g., sensors, optical components, automotive electronics, complex electromechanical devices).
• Proven proficiency with Automotive quality core tools: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plan, SPC, MSA, 8D
• In-depth knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949 quality management systems, VDA 6.3 process audit.
• Experience in a production environment involving optics, lasers, or highly precise mechanical assemblies is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in English and Thai), with the ability to lead technical problem-solving discussions across various departments.

Preferred Qualifications

• IATF 16949 requirement and Automotive Core tools training certification.
• Experience with automotive electronics assemblies, lidar, camera, or other high-resolution sensor technology.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., JMP, Minitab) and data visualization tools.
• Experience scaling up complex assemblies from pilot production to high-volume manufacturing (HVM), particularly concerning firmware and functional aspects.

Working Conditions & Location

This position is for a resident Quality Engineer based at Thailand contract manufacturing site (Hi-tech Ayutthaya). This is an on-site requirement.