NPI Quality Assurance Engineer III

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

NPI Quality Assurance Engineer III

Make your mark at the world’s largest HVAC company

Daikin Applied is seeking an NPI Quality Assurance Engineer III ! In this critical role, you will lead the establishment of a World-Class quality culture at Daikin transforming quality into a competitive advantage, by reducing customer escapes, improving company warranty costs, and delighting the customer with smooth and timely product launches. This will be accomplished by ensuring that products consistently meet quality and regulatory standards through planned and systematic activities as part of an improved Product Introduction Process (NPI). This requires partnering with the product design team, supplier quality & factory quality assurance throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from Ideation to Design & Development and Production Launch.

Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: In Office, Plymouth, MN

Role Overview:

The NPI Quality Assurance Engineer is a critical role, ensuring that quality is integrated into the product lifecycle from concept to initial design through full-scale production launch of large, complex electro-mechanical assemblies. You will lead the product quality planning activities throughout assigned NPI projects, driving accountability for quality through the gate review process and ensuring seamless New Product Introduction (NPI) across manufacturing sites in the U.S. & Mexico.

What you will do:

• Execute, improve & track Critical-to-Quality NPI processes, ensuring Product Design & Quality Assurance Engineering expertise and methodologies are leveraged during New Product Introduction (NPI), namely Critical-to-Quality elements including:
  • Historical Quality Reviews & Quality Design Targets
  • Embedded participation in Product Design Team, supporting Preliminary Design Risk Assessments, Boundary Diagrams, DFMEA, Design Reviews (DFMA & DFQ), DVP & R and providing quality & risk knowledge transfer phase-to-phase throughout the NPI projects
  • Product Design, Manufacturing & Quality Readiness Reviews
  • Cross-functional collaboration with Supplier Quality & Manufacturing engineering to ensure robust NPI Project PPAP plan & Process Mapping and PFMEA
  • Development of Control Plans for new product
  • Provide hands-on product build support for all physical builds such as Prototype Builds (ECS), Manufacturing Check Samples (MCS), Closure of findings, and production release hand-shake with Manufacturing QC Team
  • Drive continuous improvement of the NPI process
• Creates, executes and manages product quality assurance plans for NPI products, aligning with corporate policies, goals and strategic initiatives, meeting expectations for Quality functions at each manufacturing facility
• Analyzes, evaluates, and presents Quality Scorecards for NPI projects, assessing quality impact from factors (such as product design risk, manufacturing capabilities and concerns, supplier quality risks, and validation and verification of new products) to cross-functional management team
• Collaborates with engineering managers and lead engineers to ensure new products meet quality targets in accordance with the NPI (New Product Introduction) and to identify and support design problem resolution for existing products
• Oversees the quality assurance engineering reviews of design documentation for compliance with stated requirements, including vendor and company quality records
• Supports the development and initiation of standards and methods for inspection, testing and evaluation
• Suggests and debates alternative methods and procedures in solving problems and meeting changing market conditions
• Keeps management team abreast of significant issues or developments identified during quality assurance activities and corrective actions
• Prepares and presents technical and program information to the management team
• Establish basic quality disciplines (problem solving, data collection, prioritization and metrics). Develops initial and subsequent modifications to the quality improvement program to delineate areas of responsibility, personnel requirements, and operational procedures within program
• Reviews data obtained during all quality control and quality assurance activities to ensure consistency with company policies and procedures. Reviews technical problems and procedures and recommends solutions or revisions

What’s in it for you:

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Engineering or a related field
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant NPI experience, with at least 3 years in each of two of the following: Manufacturing Operations, Product Development, or Quality
• Track record of successful project management, project team experience, bias for action and passion for excellence
• Strong knowledge of product quality, process quality and design engineering, with hands-on experience leading and participating in DFMEA & PFMEA execution, industrial manufacturing processes, specifications, testing and inspections
• Ability to travel to Daikin’s key sites throughout the U.S & Mexico (up to 25%). Some overseas travel may be required.
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position 

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of related NPI experience in multiple cross-functional roles
• Relevant ASQ Certification(s), Six Sigma, DFSS, APQP, Total Quality Management (TQM), & Lean (or other reputable certification body)
• Experience with HVAC, compressors, pumps, or fluid handling systems.
• Advanced knowledge of complex electro-mechanical assembly and/or welding   processes.

Benefits:

• Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance 
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $90,400 - $147,400 plus a 10% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.  

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