Project Engineer Jobs in Columbia, SC

Who We Are

AVANTech, LLC solves some of the most challenging problems in the Nuclear & water industries - from being first responders to the Fukushima Nuclear Plant meltdown to implementing patented, first-of-its-kind technology. Our projects include complex industrial water recycling and treatment solutions at nuclear and government sites worldwide. AVANTech's goal is to improve the environment around us and support our clients with innovative, sustainable solutions.

Who You Are

The Project Quality Engineer (PQE) serves as the primary quality interface assigned to one or more projects, supporting the successful execution of customer requirements while ensuring compliance with the AVANTech Quality Assurance Program.

The PQE works closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality Control, Receiving, Testing, and Document Management to identify quality requirements, evaluate project risks, facilitate communication, and help navigate the AVANTech Quality Management System throughout the project lifecycle.

This position is intended to be proactive rather than reactive by identifying potential quality issues early, facilitating resolution of technical and quality concerns, and helping project teams successfully execute complex customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Quality representative assigned to designated projects.
• Act as the primary interface between Project Management and the Quality organization.
• Develop a thorough understanding of customer contracts, specifications, codes, standards, and quality requirements.
• Assist Project Managers in interpreting customer quality requirements and incorporating them into project execution.
• Help Project Managers understand and navigate AVANTech quality procedures, processes, and program requirements.
• Participate in project kickoff meetings and planning activities.
• Support development of project quality plans and quality strategies.
• Identify quality risks throughout the project lifecycle and work with the project team to develop mitigation strategies.
• Maintain visibility of quality-related project risks and communicate emerging issues to project leadership.
• Coordinate quality-related communication with customers.
• Participate in customer meetings involving quality matters.
• Support resolution of customer comments, technical questions, and quality concerns.
• Assist with customer audits and source surveillance activities.
• Coordinate quality support for project meetings and milestone reviews.
• Support preparation for customer inspections and hold points.

Project Support Responsibilities

• Review contracts and purchase orders for quality requirements.
• Verify quality requirements have been properly flowed down to suppliers and subcontractors.
• Assist Engineering with interpretation of customer quality requirements.
• Coordinate with Procurement regarding supplier quality requirements.
• Work with Receiving Inspection regarding acceptance requirements.
• Coordinate Quality Control activities throughout fabrication.
• Support testing activities and ensure quality requirements are satisfied.
• Assist Document Management in identifying required quality records.
• Support preparation and review of Quality Verification Data Requirements (QVDRs).
• Monitor project quality metrics.
• Participate in project risk reviews.
• Assist with management of project nonconformances.
• Support corrective action development and implementation.

Quality Program Responsibilities

• Support implementation of the AVANTech Quality Assurance Program.
• Ensure project activities comply with NQA-1 and applicable customer requirements.
• Assist in development and improvement of quality procedures.
• Participate in internal audits.
• Support supplier evaluations and audits.
• Assist with corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support lessons learned activities.
• Help improve consistency across projects.
• Promote a proactive quality culture throughout the organization.

Customer Interface

The Project Quality Engineer is expected to establish professional working relationships with customers by:

• Understanding customer expectations.
• Responding to quality questions in a timely manner.
• Coordinating responses between Engineering, Project Management, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Supporting customer audits.
• Participating in technical discussions involving quality requirements.
• Helping resolve customer concerns before they become project issues.
• Maintaining open communication throughout project execution.

Risk Management Responsibilities

The Project Quality Engineer supports project success by:

• Identifying quality risks during proposal review and project kickoff.
• Monitoring changing customer requirements.
• Evaluating impacts of specification changes.
• Identifying quality issues that may affect cost or schedule.
• Escalating significant risks to project leadership.
• Supporting project risk registers.
• Assisting Project Managers with quality-related mitigation plans.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum five years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, project engineering, or project management.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Nuclear industry experience.
• NQA-1 experience.
• ASME Code experience.
• DOE project experience.
• Supplier Quality experience.
• Lead Auditor certification.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.
• Project Management experience.
• Commercial Grade Dedication experience.
• Risk management experience.

Desired Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Technical Leadership
• Project Coordination
• Risk Assessment
• Critical Thinking
• Root Cause Analysis
• Cross-functional Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Organization
• Planning
• Technical Writing
• Continuous Improvement
• Relationship Building
• Decision Making

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Strong relationships with assigned Project Managers.
• Early identification and mitigation of project quality risks.
• Effective communication between Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and customers.
• Successful customer audits and inspections.
• Reduced quality-related project delays.
• Improved first-pass acceptance.
• Improved quality planning throughout project execution.
• Consistent application of the AVANTech Quality Program.
• Increased customer confidence in AVANTech's project execution.

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive market salary range based on experience and skill set. Generous benefits package including 401(k), medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, generous paid time off and holidays, and a flexible work schedule.

All candidates must be able to pass a drug test, pre-employment physical, and background investigation.

AVANTech LLC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.