Senior Quality & Reliability Engineering Manager
MKS Instruments · Beaverton, OR
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $135k–$225k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management quality role at MKS Instruments (industrial) in Beaverton, OR. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, FMEA, APQP, CAPA
- Base pay
- $135k–$225k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 11 other live quality postings in Oregon.
- Base pay
- About 6% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 4+)
Typical $121k–$220k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 83%
- ✓ FMEA 50%
- Control plans 50%
- Supplier quality 50%
- ✓ Six Sigma 42%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 42%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Black Belt, Power BI / Tableau, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at MKS Instruments
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from MKS InstrumentsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
are met.
- ✓Collaborate closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Service, and Marketing to translate customer
requirements
into effective quality and reliability strategies.
- ✓Lead reliability engineering activities across the product lifecycle, including DFR/DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessments, and reliability modeling.
- ✓Oversee qualification, validation, and life testing strategies, ensuring products meet reliability and durability targets.
- ✓Drive root cause analysis for systemic failures using structured problem-solving tools (8D, CAPA, FRACAS) and ensure corrective actions are embedded into design and process standards.
- ✓Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with relevant standards (ISO-9001:2015). Lead internal, external and customer audits; ensure timely and effective CAPA execution.
- ✓Lead cross-functional Quality Improvement Teams (QITs) focused on reducing field failures, improving out-of-box quality, and reducing warranty costs.
- ✓Support product design reviews with reliability input, including the development of critical component
requirements
and design robustness reviews.
- ✓Champion the use of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), DFMEA, and other quality tools throughout the product lifecycle.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
A Day in Your Life at MKS
We are looking for an exceptional Sr. Quality and Reliability Engineering Manager to join our Systems Business Unit in Beaverton, Oregon. This position will lead all quality and reliability initiatives at the site and play a key role in advancing our culture of quality excellence and product performance for our high-power laser-based systems.
MKS Equipment Solutions Business develops Laser-based micro manufacturing systems and component test systems that are used worldwide by manufacturers in the electronics industry to process the materials and components that are an integral part of the electronic devices and systems in use today. We are open to new perspectives and ideas.
You Will Make an Impact By
- •Define and execute Quality and Reliability Plans for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs, ensuring customer expectations and compliance
Skills You Bring
- •Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Reliability, Mechanical) or a related technical field.
- •10+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, Reliability Engineering leadership or related technical disciplines.
- •Proven success managing QMS programs, audits, and leading quality system improvements.
- •Experience working with high-power industrial lasers, laser-based systems or complex electro-mechanical systems is strongly preferred.
- •Proficient in quality tools such as DFMEA, APQP, 8D, CAPA, and FRACAS.
- •Strong analytical and data visualization skills with expertise in software tools such as ReliaSoft, JMP, MATLAB, Power BI, and/or Python.
- •Effective multitasking and time management skills, with strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication abilities.
- •Ability to travel up to 10% to support customer, supplier, and corporate quality initiatives.
- •Preferred Certifications: ASQ certifications (CQM/OE, CRE), Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
- •Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time
- •Regularly requires good manual dexterity and coordination
- •Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand
- •Must be able to exchange accurate information
- •The ability to observe documents and details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)
- •Operates in a professional office environment
- •Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery
- •Noise level in the work environment is usually average