Principal Quality Engineer (contractor)

Overview

In order to achieve New Product Introduction project success, the Project Quality Engineer ensures that the Itron Development Process is properly applied, manages global project risks and supports the PMO on all quality aspects, targeting “built in Quality” for new products and solutions. The Project Quality Engineer works in close collaboration with NPI core development teams and is located in R&D Centers Of Excellence. This is a contractor role for a fixed term with monthly extension.

Responsibilities

• Coach Program/Project managers on Itron Product Life Cycle (PLC) activity for New Product Introduction (NPI) implementation and identify / manage gaps
• Challenge PLC deliverables content (completed and validated by competent people) and support / challenge the Project/Program manager for quality topics
• Verify readiness of project gates
• Validate project termination when the product and processes are capable in all domains (Design, Procurement, manufacturing, Sales, …)
• Lead quality in project phases (problem solving, risk avoidance, phase reviews, product & process capabilities, and lessons learned)
• Globally manage project risks and ensure proper focus on contingency plans
• Represent the customer voice in the project and manage customer interactions in case of quality issues during the project phase
• Lead or participate in System FMEA, Design FMEA and support Process FMEA, and related risk-avoidance activities
• Support Supplier Quality in supplier selection evaluation / process audits along with PPAPs and PVLs
• Support / facilitate Project QRQC (Quick Reaction Quality Collaboration) and visual planning deployment, 8D problem solving and root cause analysis
• Support interfaces with customers on Quality aspects during project phases when the project is dedicated to a specific customer
• Be a quality core team member in support of factory quality or in projects involving a third-party partner
• Initiate project Red Alert when appropriate and ensure problem solving activities are properly managed
• Manage project quality KPIs, analyze results and propose a roadmap for improvement
• Interface with the Quality organization to ensure the quality network is informed about the project and quality expectations
• Raise requests for support to the quality network when needed and when key steps are not respected
• Ensure the customer voice is taken into account in customer quality considerations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a science-related field
• 10+ years of experience in Quality Engineering
• Proficiency with built-in quality tools (e.g., FMEA) and statistical methods
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate 8D problem solving and FMEA sessions
• Knowledge of reliability engineering, capability analysis, Design for Capability / Design for Six Sigma, and SPC tools (preferred)
• Familiarity with Lean Development concepts (preferred)
• Experience reviewing and managing open issues, bugs, and requirements in Azure DevOps (ADS)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French
• Demonstrated strength of the four core competencies: Adaptability, Knowledge, Quality, and Teamwork
• Strong analytical problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills; able to engage the right internal/external experts and escalate effectively
• Customer-focused ownership mindset: sets realistic expectations, drives end-to-end issue resolution, meets commitments, and proactively prioritizes work to deliver to deadlines
• Proven leadership in change and ambiguity: acts with integrity, makes timely decisions, aligns stakeholders, and builds an inclusive, high-accountability team

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on water, energy, and gas challenges
• R&D center with growth in the Mâcon site
• Hybrid work model with 1-2 days per week in the office