Quality Engineer (ONSITE)
MP Materials · Mountain Pass, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Metals
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at MP Materials (metals) in Mountain Pass, CA. BS or MS in chemical engineering or similar engineering discipline.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, ISO 9001, Internal audits, Robotics
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $100k–$153k.
Median of the low and high ends of 119 live postings that list pay, out of 235 quality engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 234 other live quality postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$149k, from 115 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 76%
- FMEA 48%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 43%
- Supplier quality 43%
- AS9100 40%
- ✓ ISO 9001 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Robotics, 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 MP Materials
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 did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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.
This plant: MP Materials in Mountain Pass
7 other open roles at this site.
- Reliability Engineer (ONSITE) · Reliability
- Facilities Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Senior Process Control Engineer-Onsite · Controls · Senior
- Process Engineer · Process
- Process Control Engineer (ONSITE) · Controls
- Electrical & Instrumentation Technician · Reliability · Technician
Full description from MP MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Apply and promote industry best practices in the implementation and sustainment of the Quality Management System (QMS) for the Mountain Pass Mine and Processing Facility
- ◆Collaborate with plant process engineers and operations to understand the specific elements, compounds, ratios, and purity
requirements
for feed sources and product streams; track critical inputs and outputs to ensure on spec product packaging, approaching 100% first time, on-spec production
- ✓Ensure the QMS is compliant with all required third party standards/requirements, primarily ISO 9001 certification
- ✓Lead the internal audit program, including participating in audit planning, execution, and reporting, and actively contribute with third-party certification and audit activities
- ✓Collaborate closely with customer reps to ensure that the QMS is compliant with all customer
requirements
and integrated as needed with customer systems
- ✓Lead non-compliance corrective action activities from internal and external (customer, supplier, and certification) audits
- ✓Ensure that all in-house systems and procedures are updated, revised, and modified as needed to meet the needs of internal workforce, customers, and external certification bodies
- ✓Drive improvements to the internal document control program, ensuring all policies, procedures, and other document types that impact safety, environmental compliance, and production quality are controlled per internal and ISO 9001
requirements
- ✓Coordinate and execute the Management Review process, including preparation of inputs, reporting, and record retention, in compliance with ISO 9001
- ✓Maintain and update controlled documents, including the Quality Manual & Policy, Risks and Opportunities, and Interested Parties review
- ✓Responsible for ensuring the latest ISO 9001 standard revision and amendments are obtained, reviewed, and integrated with the mine site QMS
- ✓Develop and implement quality systems learning and training tools
- ✓Any other task as directed by management
Basic
Qualifications
- ✓BS or MS in chemical engineering or similar engineering discipline
- ✓3+ years of quality systems experience under relevant quality regimes in a manufacturing environment
- ✓ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification
- ✓Experience managing both internal and external (customer and surveillance) audits
- ✓Understanding of standard manufacturing and safety compliance processes
- ✓Valid driver’s license to drive company vehicles on and off property
requirements
will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.
Your Right to Work – In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.
For Assistance with Application - Alternative methods of applying for employment are available to individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability. Contact Human Resources Department at 702-844-6111; dial 7 when prompted for HR;1700 South Pavilion Center Dr. 8th Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89135 to discuss reasonable accommodation.
Safety Provision - Employees are responsible for following all company, industry and regulatory procedures and laws to ensure a safe work environment for them
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Company Overview
MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification.
We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.
We hire ambitious, mission-driven people who want to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of strategic industries. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, resiliency, and integrity, with a deep commitment to operational excellence and national purpose. MP is rapidly evolving from a materials producer into a leading U.S. manufacturer—and our people are driving that transformation.
Position Overview
The Quality Engineer will be a member of the process engineering team based in Mountain Pass, California. This role is primarily responsible for driving process quality, improving product consistency, and supporting plant operations through data-driven quality engineering practices. The successful candidate will be highly organized and detail-oriented with experience in the plant operations quality control, and the sustainment of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in compliance with internal, customer, and certification body requirements.
Position
Desired Qualities
- +3+ years experience in a quality or process engineering role in a heavy industrial chemical plant operation
- +Experience implementing a QMS software solution
- +Experience and management of root cause analysis, corrective, and preventative action programs
- +Project management skills
- +Accreditation by professional organizations
- +Lean and Six Sigma experience
- +Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- +Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
