Customer Quality Engineer III

Overview Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Customer Quality Engineer III? 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 Customer Quality Engineer III https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tMgKm_71qs ( by clicking this link you are being referred to an external site that is not part of Panasonic ) 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 Customer Quality Engineer III supports customer and product quality objectives through advanced product data collection and analysis, and structured problem-solving activities. This role applies deep technical expertise to complex lithium-ion battery performance, safety, and reliability testing and qualification processes, and investigating multi-variable quality issues, and implements effective corrective actions. Operating with limited supervision, the engineer impacts multiple projects or teams by developing and improving testing, driving process improvements, and exercising independent judgment within their area of expertise. The role collaborates across departments and with external stakeholders, presents findings to management, and mentors junior engineers while maintaining and advancing SOPs, methods, and standards in support of the world's largest lithium-ion battery initiative.

Essential Duties:

Functional Operations:

Applies deep technical expertise to routine performance, safety, and reliability testing on lithium-ion cells in accordance with specifications and procedures Develops, reviews, and validates testing standards, methods, and acceptance criteria to ensure robust and repeatable results Leads medium-sized laboratory or quality projects, managing scope, timelines, and resource coordination Plan and execute product qualification and product change management effecting customers Conducts root cause analysis and corrective action and preventative actions with cross-functional internal stakeholders and customers

Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

Independently resolves complex, multi-variable quality and testing problems using structured problem-solving methodologies Performs advanced data analysis to identify trends, systemic failure modes, and improvement opportunities Leads continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, test efficiency, and defect reduction Develops and implements new or improved test methods, procedures, or processes based on data-driven insights Provides technical guidance during root cause analysis and corrective action implementation

Training & Team Support:

Mentors Customer Quality Engineer I and II team members through technical coaching and knowledge sharing Serves as a technical resource for laboratory technicians and engineers on testing practices and problem resolution May lead small, cross-functional project teams or focused technical workstreams

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

Collaborates across departments including manufacturing, engineering, quality, and supply chain to resolve complex quality issues Communicates technical findings, risks, and recommendations to management and stakeholders Presents test results, analyses, and improvement proposals using clear, data-supported narratives Makes independent technical decisions within area of expertise and appropriately escalates broader risks

Quality, Safety, & Compliance:

Maintains, evaluates, follows, and improves SOPs related to safe handling, testing, storage, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries Leads containment actions and supports disposition and treatment of nonconforming product Ensures compliance with quality management systems, plant requirements, and PECNA policies and procedures Promotes a strong safety culture and ensures adherence to laboratory, environmental, and regulatory standards 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 Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM), or a related field

Preferred:

Master's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean certification, or demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and cross-functional problem-solving efforts

Essential Qualifications:

4+ years of relevant experience, including hands-on laboratory or product testing experience in a manufacturing or R D environment Demonstrated proficiency in mechanical and electrical engineering principles as applied to complex product testing, evaluation, and failure analysis Ability to work with limited supervision, exercising independent technical judgment on complex or ambiguous quality and testing issues Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly present technical findings, risks, and recommendations to cross-functional teams and management Proven ability to accurately document, interpret, and communicate complex test data, investigation outcomes, and corrective actions Proficiency in applying statistical techniques to analyze data, identify trends, and support data-driven decision-making (e.g., SPC, basic DOE) Demonstrated expertise in metrology, measurement techniques, and advanced laboratory test equipment Solid working knowledge of quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949) and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., UL, CE, RoHS), with the ability to apply them independently Ability to quickly understand and apply production processes, quality requirements, and risk considerations within a high-volume manufacturing environment Collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers, provide technical guidance, and contribute to team-based problem solving 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:

6+ years of laboratory or product testing experience Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments such as lithium-ion batteries, electronics, automotive, or energy storage Hands-on experience with lithium-ion cell testing and/or manufacturing processes Demonstrated experience applying advanced product testing and evaluation methodologies such as SPC, DOE, HALT, HASS, ORT, and applicable industrial or regulatory standards Experience leading laboratory investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation for complex quality issues Experience working with laboratory data systems, dashboards, or data visualization tools (e.g., LIMS, Power BI, Foundry, or similar) to support technical decision-making and reporting Requirements - Required and/or

Preferred 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 (