Lead Advanced Quality Engineer

About Us

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

About the Role

The Lead Advanced Quality Engineer accepts a leadership role within the Advanced Quality/Launch group. Assists Advanced Quality Engineers in decision making, problem solving, and helping to provide direction while managing their own programs in launch. Works with Program Managers/Launch team to ensure all APQP documentation, customer-specific requirements, and Challenge plant needs are met for a successful start of production.

Responsibilities

• Handles all quality-related launch activities and acts as the voice for internal and external customers.
• Prepares all APQP and PPAP documentation for product in launch.
• Works with Quality and Engineering departments on new programs to verify all customer requirements are met.
• Communicates with suppliers to ensure products and services meet Challenge and customer requirements.
• Attends all assigned program team meetings and supports other Advanced Quality Engineers in their program team meetings when assistance is required.
• Obtains detailed product knowledge quickly.
• Works with Project Engineers to ensure FMEAs are completed in time to impact tooling designs.
• Assists the Supplier Quality Engineers with supplier PPAP review and supplier selection.
• Develops Control Plans.
• Supports team and provides guidance with evaluation and approval of dimensional tolerancing and specifications.
• Leads or supports the evaluation and approval of fixture and gage requirements.
• Participates in or leads fixture and gage reviews and buy-off meetings.
• Attends all assigned die and weld tool runoffs, internally and externally, to approve part quality and highlight potential risk.
• Supports other Advanced Quality Engineers when requested.
• Supports the Safe Launch process in the early stages of launch through handover to plant quality personnel.
• Supports communication between external and internal suppliers and customers.
• Owns the document storage process to ensure all documents created during the launch phase are complete and accessible.
• Assists program teams and Advanced Quality Engineers with understanding customer PV test requirements and specifications.
• Engages and negotiates with the customer when requirements are open to interpretation or not feasible.
• Leads training of team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
• 5 years in related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10 to 15 years related experience and/or training preferred.
• High standards of performance for self; takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
• Thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
• Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on the issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress.
• Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
• Flexes to support plant flow and works with a sense of urgency to meet customer needs.
• Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job; rotates through all job responsibilities and customers.
• Maintains knowledge and skills to perform the job effectively.
• Ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change constructively and views it as a learning opportunity.
• Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge.
• Is at work when scheduled, ensures coverage when absent, takes timely breaks, and uses time wisely.

Skills

• Advanced Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing knowledge.
• Understanding of specific customer requirements.
• Strong knowledge of AIAG.
• Expertise in APQP.
• Expertise in PPAP requirements.
• Ability to analyze and understand dimensional data in varying formats.
• Confidence to suggest tooling moves or explain non-conforming data to other engineering teams.
• Knowledge of and experience using problem-solving and core tools.
• Strong communication skills.
• Plexus experience.
• Microsoft Office proficiency.

Schedule

This is a Monday through Friday position located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI.

Benefits

Challenge offers an ESOP program, allowing employee-owners to receive shares of the Company annually as an additional retirement benefit. Being part of an ESOP means sharing in Challenge’s success.