Quality Engineer

Job Title:  Quality Engineer 

Reports to: Engineering Manager

FLSA Status: EXEMPT

Schedule: Monday through Friday (8:00a to 5:00p) extended hours may be required to support business needs

Primary duties and responsibilities:

APQP / PPAP / Launch Support

· Prepare, maintain, and submit APQP and PPAP documentation for new and existing programs.

· Develop and update Process Flows, PFMEAs, Control Plans, Safe Launch Plans, and PPAP checklists.

· Coordinate PPAP requirements with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.

· Support customer-specific PPAP requirements for automotive, agriculture, defense.

· Track open APQP and PPAP deliverables to ensure timely completion and submission.

· Support run-at-rate, capability studies, process studies, dimensional studies, and launch readiness activities.

Production Quality Support

· Support daily production quality activities, including defect investigation, containment, root cause analysis, and corrective action.

· Work with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to resolve quality issues related to laser cutting, press brake forming, welding, machining, e-coat, powder coat, assembly, and shipping.

· Review customer drawings, specifications, tolerances, GD&T, and special characteristics to ensure proper quality planning.

· Support inspection methods and acceptance criteria for in-process and final inspection.

· Assist with layered process audits, dock audits, safe launch inspections, and process verification activities.

· Monitor internal scrap, rework, customer complaints, and PPM trends

Customer and Supplier Quality

· Lead or support customer corrective actions, including 8D, 5-Why, containment reports, and permanent corrective actions.

· Communicate quality issues, timing, and corrective action status with customers and internal teams.

· Support supplier quality issues related to purchased components, outside processing, raw materials.

· Review customer scorecards and help drive improvement actions.

· Support customer audits, visits, PPAP reviews, and quality system reviews.

Quality System and Continuous Improvement

· Support compliance with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements, and internal procedures.

· Participate in internal audits, process audits, and corrective action follow-up.

· Maintain accurate quality records, inspection documents, PPAP files, and customer submission records.

· Identify opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, inspection burden, and customer complaints.

· Use data to prioritize quality improvements and communicate risk to the appropriate teams.

Education, prior work experience and specialized skills and knowledge:

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing quality experience will be considered.

· 3+ years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, or automotive/industrial manufacturing quality.

· Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flows, 8D, corrective actions, and root cause analysis.

· Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and inspection reports.

· Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, preferably sheet metal fabrication, welding, forming, machining, coatings, and assembly.

· Strong communication skills with the ability to work across Engineering, Quality, Operations, Program Management, and customers.

· Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and quality documentation systems.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in automotive, agriculture, defense, heavy truck, or OEM supplier manufacturing.

· Familiarity with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, customer portals, and customer-specific requirements.

· Experience with CMM reports, gage R&R, capability studies, and dimensional layouts.

· Knowledge of welding standards, visual weld inspection, cut and etch, or AWS-related requirements.

· Experience with ERP/QMS systems such as PLEX.

· Experience supporting launches, PPAP submissions, safe launch, and customer audits.

Physical environment/working conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Other (e.g., customer contact or access to confidential information):

Must be able to work as part of a team. Must maintain confidentiality when working with the Executive Management/Plant Management Team on assignments.