Sr. QA Engineer

Senior Quality Assurance Engineer
  Team Quality Location Gunsan, Korea Reporting to QMS Manager Manager Type Permanent

The client is a battery materials and manufacturing company with a unique silicon anode technology. Our technology unlocks the potential of silicon to deliver increased capacity without compromising lithium-ion battery cycle life, providing lighter batteries with more power and longer lifetime between charges.
From our facilities in the UK, Korea and Japan, we're working with world-class OEMs and making a major contribution in shaping the future of lithium-ion batteries.
  Job Purpose We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Quality Assurance Engineer to maintain, enhance, and continuously improve our Quality Management System (QMS). This role is pivotal in ensuring strict compliance with internal standards, Customer Specific Requirements (CSR), and international automotive quality standards (specifically IATF 16949). You will be a problem solver with a passion for embedding quality across the organisation Key Responsibilities 1. Quality System Management (QMS)

• System Maintenance: Maintain and improve the company’s QMS to align with internal strategic requirements and external standards, with a specific focus on IATF 16949.
• Documentation Control: Develop, revise, and manage the lifecycle of quality procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and related documentation.
• Core Tools Implementation: Utilize and enforce automotive core quality tools—including FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Control Plan, MSA (Measurement System Analysis), and SPC (Statistical Process Control)—to ensure system robustness.
• Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with production, engineering, and R&D teams to ensure company-wide compliance with the quality system.

2. Change Management

• Process Leadership: Lead and manage change control processes across the organization.  Ensure the timely documentation, approval, and implementation of engineering and process changes.
• Validation: Monitor post-implementation effectiveness to ensure changes do not negatively impact product quality.

3. Customer Handling

• Customer Interface: Participate in customer meetings regarding quality issues, process improvements, or audits.
• Requirement Cascading: Translate and communicate customer requirements internally, ensuring proper execution across manufacturing lines.
• Complaint Management: Lead the investigation and resolution of customer complaints using structured problem-solving tools such as 8D Reports, Ishikawa (Fishbone) diagrams, and 5-Why analysis.
• Reporting: Provide timely, accurate responses and technical documentation to customers to maintain high satisfaction levels.

4. Audit Preparation & Management

• Audit Readiness: Prepare the organization for internal and external audits, specifically for IATF 16949 certification and customer-specific audits.
• Coordination: Coordinate audit schedules, compile required documentation, and ensure stakeholder readiness.
• Internal Auditing: Serve as a qualified Internal Auditor
• Corrective Actions: Follow up on audit findings (NCs) to ensure effective and permanent corrective actions are implemented.

Qualifications Education & Experience

• Qualification:  Degree in Chemical, Mechanical Engineering or similar.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in a Quality Assurance Engineer role.
• System Knowledge: Proven practical experience with IATF 16949 or similar system implementation, operation, and maintenance.
• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience applying quality core tools: APQP, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, SPC, and Process Flow.

Skills & Competencies

• Language: Fluency in English (Spoken and Written) is important for working with international teams and customers.  Knowledge of Japanese would be a significant advantage for candidates
• Auditing: Qualified Internal Auditor with experience conducting system or process audits.
• Documentation: Proficiency in creating, organizing, and managing complex quality documentation.
• Soft Skills: Strong understanding of quality management principles combined with excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• Experience specifically within the Automotive or related manufacturing industries.
• Experience working in laboratory testing environments.
• In-depth knowledge of Customer-Specific Requirements (CSR) for major automotive OEMs.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.