Sr. Quality Engineer - Bedford, MA, United States
Originally posted 31 August 2026 by the employer.
Support the optical encoder product line.
About the role
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.
What you'll do
- 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.
- Identify and communicate supplier quality issues and drive resolution.
- Lead MRB activities and contribute to scrap reduction initiatives.
- Develop and implement risk-based sampling plans.
- Lead and facilitate root cause investigations into electronic component and PCBA failures.
What you'll need
- 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.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including: 8D, DMAIC, 5 Whys, Ishikawa (Fishbone).
Nice to have
- Exposure to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 quality management systems.
- Experience CMM programming and inspection methods.
- Audit experience with internal, customer, and/or registrar audits for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485.
This role has been open 47 days — below the 54-day median for Semiconductor Equipment Engineering roles.
Semiconductor Equipment Engineering · Manufacturing Equipment
|
Open roles in category
3768
|
Median days open
54 d
|
Median salary
$126k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Novanta | All employers we track in this specialty (3768 roles · 81 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 6 | 3768 |
| Open roles in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family | 38 | 9877 · 109 employers |
| Median days open | 46 d | 54 d (−8 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $126k |
Who's hiring in this category
- Applied Materials · 611 open roles · median 54 d
- Lam Research · 559 open roles · median 44 d
- Micron Technology · 282 open roles · median 45 d
- KLA Corporation · 251 open roles · median 68 d
- ASML · 190 open roles · median 72 d
- ASM International · 161 open roles · median 86 d
How we counted: 3768 open Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Manufacturing Equipment) roles from 81 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 18 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Process, Fab & Equipment family row. Figures refresh nightly.