NPI Product Quality/RMA Engineer - Return Material Authorization, Hardware Engineering

Company:

Qualcomm Semiconductor Limited

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Hardware Engineering

General Summary:

Job Description

This Engineer‑level NPI Product Quality/RMA Engineer role integrates the full spectrum of Product Quality responsibilities across both New Product Introduction (NPI) and Return Material Authorization (RMA) engineering. The engineer serves as the key Quality representative throughout the entire product lifecycle—from early concept and development through high‑volume manufacturing and customer return analysis—ensuring robust product readiness, reliability, outgoing quality, and rapid issue resolution.
 

In this role, the engineer is expected to drive cross-functional alignment, influence upstream design and process decisions, and champion long‑term systemic improvements impacting product quality, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction. The position requires strong technical depth, the ability to interpret complex failure signatures, and the leadership to guide teams through data‑driven problem solving, risk assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives. This Staff‑level engineer will be a critical connector between development, operations, suppliers, and customers, ensuring both proactive and reactive quality mechanisms are executed with excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Quality Engineering representative in NPI core teams, ensure reliability, supplier readiness, customer RMA readiness, and product readiness deliverables are met for new product launch.
• Work with cross-functional teams (QRE, Packaging, PTE, Systems, Design, etc.) to make sure lessons-learned and corrective/preventative actions are applied upstream during product development.
• Lead technical and business teams to resolve escalated Quality issues in HVM, including factory excursions and non-conforming materials disposition.
• Conduct technical evaluations of customer returned devices at system and device levels utilizing tools such as ATE, XRAY, CSAM, IV curve, system level test, and bench leading to a clear path of root cause.
• Track actions, schedules and owners to maintain targeted RMA analysis cycle time. Initiate internal corrective actions where applicable.
• Act as the conduit between Qualcomm’s customer, Product Core Team and Branch CQE. Provide customer prospective (voice of customer) to internal stakeholders with the view to driving customer satisfaction metrics higher.
• Drive improvement of internal quality systems with the goal of reducing outgoing product quality DPPM.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering (MS preferred).
• Minimum 3–8 years of relevant experience in NPI Product Quality, RMA, or Product Test Engineering roles.
• Strong semiconductor quality background and knowledge of wafer fabrication, semiconductor assembly and testing, and packaging.
• Hands on knowledge/application of quality tools, statistics, CAPA, and problem solving techniques.
• Strong cross-functional communication and leadership skills.
• Strong verbal and written skills; ability to clearly organize and articulate information; seeks win/win resolution in difficult situations

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field.

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