Principal Quality Engineer

As Principal Quality Engineer based in Aachen, you are the technical authority for quality across our optical product line and regional quality lead for European operations. You will bridge HQ (San Jose) and the Aachen manufacturing site, drive quality integration for in-house optical manufacturing, lead supplier quality for regional semiconductor and optical vendors, and support Asia-based RMA activities for in-region products. 

• →Quality‑System Integration: Lead ISO 9001 alignment between San Jose HQ, Aachen, and other regional locations to harmonize procedures, audit schedules, and corrective action processes across both semiconductor and optical product lines.
• →Process Development & Implementation: Design, document, and roll out new quality processes, procedures, and work instructions needed to support emerging photonics products and manufacturing capabilities.
• →In‑Process Inspection & Controls: Oversee in‑process inspection activities for the in‑house manufacturing operation, establishing SPC, go/no‑go checkpoints, and real‑time defect‑tracking dashboards.
• →Supplier Quality (Optics): Provide technical support and quality assurance for optical‑component and optical‑coating suppliers; conduct supplier audits, and drive corrective‑preventive actions (CAPA).
• →Supplier Quality (Semiconductor): Serve as the regional point of contact for semiconductor suppliers, monitoring supplier performance, assisting with supplier audits, and leading issue resolution.
• →Product Quality: Core Semiconductor Business – Lead technical investigation of field returns, warranty claims, and reliability failures for semiconductor and optical products; coordinate 8D root-cause analysis and interface with Field Application Engineers (FAEs).
• →Cross‑Site Liaison: Act as the primary conduit between the Aachen site, other European/EMEA sites, and the San Jose HQ for quality information exchange, escalation handling, and best‑practice sharing.
• →Metrics & Reporting: Define, track, and report key quality KPIs (PPM, DPMO, warranty cost, MTBF, supplier defect rate, etc.) to senior leadership across the BU and corporate HQ.
• →Quality Improvement: Lead and demonstrate the application of advanced quality improvement techniques including Lean, Six‑Sigma, and other methods to reduce waste, improve yield, and enhance overall product reliability.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits. Astera Labs is committed to fair and equitable pay practices.

Astera Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.