Sr. Quality Engineer

Build a career powered by innovations that matter!  At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible.  We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.  Looking for a great place to work?  You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment.  Come explore Novanta.

As a Senior Quality Engineer within Novanta’s Robotics & Automation team, you will support the optical encoder product line, ensuring product quality, reliability, and continuous improvement across mechatronic and electronic systems. This role includes responsibility for incoming, in-process, final inspection, and test equipment calibration activities. You will partner with cross-functional teams and suppliers to investigate quality issues, implement corrective actions, and support new product development and sustaining engineering efforts. The position requires a customer-focused approach, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to manage multiple quality initiatives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Novanta’s Robotics & Automation team develops precision motion, vision, and automation subsystems that enable OEM customers to build advanced equipment used across industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, industrial automation, electronics, and life sciences. The team focuses on high-performance technologies including multi-axis motion systems, drives and controllers, encoders, and laser-based sensing, delivering integrated solutions designed for accuracy, reliability, and repeatability. Operating within a B2B model, the group partners closely with customers to embed these components into larger systems, supporting mission-critical applications that require tight tolerances and consistent performance at scale.

Primary Responsibilities

Customer Quality

• Support RMA investigations and communicate findings using structured methodologies (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys)
• Drive corrective and preventive actions to address root cause and improve product performance
• Participate in continuous improvement efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies

Supplier Quality

• Identify and communicate supplier quality issues and drive resolution in collaboration with the Supplier Quality team
• Lead MRB activities and contribute to scrap reduction initiatives
• Support supplier corrective actions and follow issues through to closure
• Support PPAP deliverables internally and within the supply chain

Quality Control

• Develop and implement risk-based sampling plans aligned with product criticality and quality requirements
• Support First Article Inspection (FAI) activities and maintain product qualification and validation records
• Lead nonconforming product investigations and drive timely disposition of MRB material
• Ensure effective containment, corrective actions, and closure of product quality issues
• Lead scheduling and support of calibration and maintenance efforts of production test equipment

New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality

• Support part qualification activities internally and within the supply chain
• Assist with transfer of products from engineering to production
• Participate in design and process risk assessments (DFMEA/PFMEA), V&V and Reliability reporting
• Provide support for product compliance and certification requirements

Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving

Lead and facilitate root cause investigations into electronic component and PCBA failures, including field returns, internal rejects, and supplier defects. Perform detailed failure analysis of electronic PCBAs and assemblies.

Apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including:

• 8D
• DMAIC
• 5 Whys
• Ishikawa (Fishbone)

Required Experience, Education, Skills, and Competencies

• 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing, or related technical environment
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
• Familiarity with quality control tools, inspection processes, and basic root cause analysis methods
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, technical manuals, and schematics
• Exposure to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 quality management systems preferred
• Bonus:  Experience CMM programming and inspection methods
• Bonus:  Audit experience with internal , customer and / or registrar audits for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485

Compensation and Benefits

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.