Principal Engineer, Quality

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to be a part of something great? Want to join a 17,000-member team that works on the technology that powers the world around us? Looking for an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, respect, diversity, and communication? How about an opportunity to own a piece of a multi-billion dollar (with a B!) global organization? We offer all that and more at Microchip Technology Inc.

People come to work at Microchip because we help design the technology that runs the world. They stay because our culture supports their growth and stability. They are challenged and driven by an incredible array of products and solutions with unlimited career potential. Microchip's nationally-recognized Leadership Passage Programs support career growth where we proudly enroll over a thousand people annually. We take pride in our commitment to employee development, values-based decision making, and strong sense of community, driven by our Vision, Mission, and 11 Guiding Values; we affectionately refer to it as the Aggregate System and it's won us countless awards for diversity and workplace excellence.

Our company is built by dedicated team players who love to challenge the status quo; we did not achieve record revenue and over 30 years of quarterly profitability without a great team dedicated to empowering innovation. People like you.

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Job Description:

The Principal Quality Engineer is a strategic leader responsible for ensuring product quality, process integrity, and operational excellence. This role sets the vision for quality initiatives, drives the implementation of advanced quality systems, and leads cross-functional teams in the resolution of complex quality challenges. The Principal Quality Engineer mentors and develops quality professionals, influences organizational culture, and partners with executive leadership to align quality objectives with business goals. Microchip seeks candidates who demonstrate strategic thinking and a proven ability to lead transformative quality improvements in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Own the continuous improvement and strategic direction of the ISO9001 QMS.
• Conduct regular QMS maturity assessments and implement best-in-class practices.
• Serve as the primary quality liaison with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and customers.
• Facilitate executive-level quality reviews and drive alignment on quality objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams in the resolution of systemic quality issues.
• Oversee the timely investigation, resolution, and closure of high-impact nonconformances and CAPAs.
• Implement advanced root cause analysis methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, FMEA, Fault Tree Analysis).
• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and drive sustainable improvements.
• Develop and deploy risk-based inspection strategies using statistical sampling and automation.
• Lead initiatives to integrate advanced inspection technologies (e.g., vision systems, AI-based analytics).
• Provide customer-facing quality investigations support, ensuring timely and transparent communication.
• Representing the company in customer audits and quality forums, driving customer satisfaction initiatives.
• Define and track key quality performance indicators (KPIs) at the site and enterprise level.
• Present actionable insights and recommendations to senior management using advanced data analytics.
• Deliver factory-focused training programs for quality and other manufacturing teams.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant industry and military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-750, MIL-STD-883, AS9001).
• Lead site readiness for external audits and certifications.
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional quality improvement projects (e.g., Lean Six Sigma initiatives).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• May provide technical leadership and mentorship to the quality team
• May serve as a project or functional lead for quality-related initiatives.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or related field required; certifications (e.g., CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt).
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in quality engineering, with at least 3 years in leadership or principal role.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced quality tools and methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, FMEA, SPC, MSA,).
• Proven experience leading QMS compliance to ISO9001.
• Strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving organizational change.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Proficient in advanced data analytics and statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP, for data analysis).
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

Travel Time:

Physical Attributes:

Physical Requirements:

Pay Range:

Benefits of working at Microchip

Microchip Technology Inc is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Poster.

To all recruitment agencies: Microchip Technology Inc. does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our recruiting team or other Microchip employees. Microchip is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.