Quality Engineer

Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for customers on quality issues and ensure timely, professional communication and resolution.
• Lead corrective action activities (CARs) and drive rapid resolution of quality problems, ensuring sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage customer complaints, product returns, and non-conforming products from initial identification through closure and documentation.
• Lead Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new product launches.
• Ensure all PPAP documentation is accurately prepared, maintained, and submitted on time in accordance with customer and automotive requirements.
• Cookordination Run@Rate activities and launch readiness reviews to verify production capability and readiness for volume manufacturing.
• Maintain compliance with IATF requirements and support the ongoing effectiveness of the quality management system.
• Own and maintain key quality documents including PFMEAs, Control Plans, Process Flows, Standard Work, and Work Instructions, ensuring they are current and effective.
• Lead root cause investigations using tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone diagrams, Six Sigma methodologies, and Value Stream Mapping to identify and eliminate sources of defects.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions that improve product quality, reduce defects, and enhance process capability.
• Manage quality requirements for new product launches from prototype through full production, ensuring compliance with customer and internal specifications.
• Coordinate dimensional validation, pre-launch inspections, PPAP sample submission, and other launch-related quality activities.
• Train production teams on new processes, quality requirements, and standards to ensure consistent execution and understanding on the shop floor.
• Lead and support the Quality team by promoting a culture of safety, 5S, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Suppliers, and other cross-functional teams to address quality concerns and improve processes.
• Provide regular updates to management on launch risks, quality concerns, key metrics, and progress on improvement actions.
• Support supplier quality activities, including communication of requirements, issue resolution, and continuous improvement with suppliers.
• Use data analysis to monitor quality performance, identify trends, and prioritize improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering.
• Minimum of three years of experience working with quality systems, procedures, and practices for an automotive supplier in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with quality engineering activities, including quality system documentation and quality systems management.
• Thorough understanding of IATF requirements and automotive standards, including APQP procedures and requirements.
• Proven problem-solving ability, with demonstrated experience using structured root cause analysis tools.
• Launch experience supporting new product introductions in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Customer interface experience, including managing customer complaints, PPAP submissions, and quality escalations.
• Strong manufacturing process knowledge, particularly in an automotive production setting.
• Data analysis skills, including the ability to interpret SPC, capability studies, and other quality metrics.
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and practices.
• Able to provide leadership without formal authority, influencing cross-functional teams toward quality objectives.
• Knowledge of ISO-based quality management systems and ISO standards.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective interaction with customers, internal teams, and suppliers.
• Experience in the automotive industry, preferably with exposure to interior automotive components.
• Familiarity with SAP or similar enterprise systems for managing quality-related data and processes.