Failure Investigation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Quality Investigation (QI) Engineer supports investigations into vehicle performance, quality concerns, and component-level issues across Subaru's battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and internal combustion engine (ICE) product lines across the North American region. This engineering role works under guidance from senior engineers and managers to evaluate vehicles, conduct root-cause analysis, and recommend technical improvements.

The QI Engineer will be assigned one (1) or more projects related to one (1) of the following two (2) teams (position dependent):

Power Systems (BEV, HEV, ICE):
High Voltage Components and Air Conditioner
Engine, Transmission, and Axles

Body & Electricals (BEV, HEV, ICE):
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Brakes
Electrical
Chassis and Body

Activities include:
In-field investigation of vehicle-related issues
Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including members in North America and Japan
Analyzing market and automotive technical data
Testing and evaluating repair and countermeasures
Assisting with vehicle development while correlating quality-related tasks
Approximately 80% execution of assigned tasks and 20% project oversight

Job Responsibilities

Project Responsibilities
Progresses in projects as directed by experienced team members
Leads some minor-impact projects independently
Participates in frequent check-ins from managers for workload and progress

Post-Production Vehicles
Conducts evaluation of production vehicles and makes final recommendations
Monitors early production quality and escalates abnormal trends

Future Production Vehicles
Supports Subaru entities with new model launch quality reviews
Shares best practices to reduce potential quality issues

Conduct Root Cause Analysis
Performs in-depth investigations into defects, customer complaints, warranty returns, and field issues
Drives failure analysis via lab testing, teardown studies, supplier returns, and in-field investigation

Perform Cross-Functional Problem Solving
Facilitates structured problem-solving processes
Works with stakeholders to identify and eliminate root causes
Ensures corrective and preventative actions are validated and implemented

Manage Quality Incidents and Containment Activities
Leads urgent responses to field or production issues
Defines, coordinates, and audits containment actions
Verifies containment effectiveness

Support Warranty and Field Issue Analysis
Analyzes field return data, warranty trends, early warning alerts, dealership reports, and telematics
Identifies systemic issues and provides technical guidance

Document and Report
Prepares detailed technical reports summarizing investigations and findings
Presents issues and status to management and senior leadership when needed

Champion Continuous Improvement
Identifies procedural or quality issues
Recommends systemic improvements
Supports quality system and process improvement initiatives

Additional Responsibilities
Collaborates with engineers across disciplines to develop competitive, reliable products that meet Subaru's quality standards
Stays current with industry trends and best practices in ICE, HEV, and BEV development

Job Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

Skills
Skills necessary to complete daily tasks
Basic understanding of general interests/trends in the U.S. market; passion for automobiles and customer service
General engineering knowledge; ability to learn new technical information
Technical & analytical skills including ability to read engineering drawings, apply RCA tools, evaluate vehicles
Problem-solving skills including hands-on investigation and structured analysis
Project management ability with strong communication between North American and Japanese teams
Data collection, interpretation, and presentation
Clear verbal and written communication; ability to explain findings to engineers or managers
Software proficiency: Microsoft Office, Python, Jira, Tableau, Power BI, RCA software, quality reporting tools
General knowledge of RCA methodologies
Basic knowledge of vehicle parts/materials

RoleSpecific Knowledge

Power Systems - High Voltage Components & Air Conditioner
EV/HEV/ICE architecture and performance
Thermal conditioning in automotive systems
High voltage component standards

Power Systems - Engine, Transmission & Axles
EV/HEV/ICE architecture and performance
Basic knowledge of engines, transmissions (CVT), and axles
Knowledge of CAN, TCP/IP signals (preferred)
CVT development/design experience (preferred)
Thermal conditioning knowledge (preferred)

Body & Electricals - ADAS & Brakes
EV/HEV/ICE electrical architecture and performance
Basic knowledge of ADAS
Basic brake system understanding

Body & Electricals - Electrical
EV/HEV/ICE electrical architecture and performance
Electrical wiring knowledge
Ability to read wiring diagrams and understand low-voltage operations

Body & Electricals - Chassis & Body
EV/HEV/ICE architecture and performance
Basic chassis/body knowledge

Education
Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, or similar field (Required)
Master's Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, or similar field (Preferred)

Work Experience
At least one (1) to three (3) years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree (Required)
Master's degree with no years of work experience (Required)

Work Environment
Office Location: Pennsauken, NJ
Compensation: The recruiting base salary range for this full-time position is $75,000 - $90,000 / year. Individual pay is determined based on job-related skills, experience, and education. This role is bonuseligible (Internal Job Grade: P1).

WHY JOIN US?

Total Rewards & Benefits
Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
Pension, Profit Sharing, and 401K Match Offerings
15 Vacation days, 5 Floating Holidays, 5 Sick days, and 9 Company Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement Program: $15,000 yearly benefit
Vehicle Discount Programs

Learning & Development
Professional growth and development opportunities
Direct partnership with senior leadership
Formal Mentorship Program
LinkedIn Learning License

Visit our careers landing page for additional information about compensation and benefit programs.

About Subaru
Love. It's what makes Subaru, Subaru. Subaru strives to be More Than a Car Company through community engagement and our Subaru Love Promise.
Subaru is a globally renowned automobile manufacturer known for innovation, safety, and sustainability since 1953.
Subaru's culture is built on collaboration, diversity, and passion for our products. Employees are encouraged to contribute their unique talents to create exceptional vehicles that inspire our customers.