Quality Engineer

About the role

Hultec is looking for a hands-on Quality Engineer to own quality assurance and control within our rubber seal manufacturing operation in Houston. You will apply structured problem-solving, support our ISO 9001 QMS, and collaborate daily with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain to prevent defects and drive continuous improvement. This role directly manages a team of 7: 2 Quality Inspectors and 5 Trimmers responsible for trimming and inspecting finished products.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership
• Directly supervise and develop a team of 7: 2 Quality Inspectors and 5 Trimmers.
• Oversee daily inspection and trimming of finished rubber seal products, ensuring adherence to acceptance criteria.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and on-the-job training to direct reports.
• Cook up workload and priorities across the team to meet production and quality targets.
• Quality Management System
• Execute and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, and documentation per ISO 9001 standards.
• Support internal audits and prepare for external audits and customer assessments.
• Maintain traceability records, inspection logs, and version-controlled technical documentation.
• Identify QMS documentation gaps and propose updates to reflect process changes.
• Quality Assurance
• Apply preventive quality controls across materials, processes, and operations in a rubber seals manufacturing environment.
• Review and validate material and process specifications including elastomer compounds, tooling, and molding parameters.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans, sampling procedures, and control points for incoming, in-process, and finished goods.
• Evaluate supplier quality performance and coordinate incoming material qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, safety standards, and applicable regulations.
• Quality Control
• Conduct and oversee dimensional, functional, and visual inspections of raw materials, in-process parts, and finished assemblies.
• Disposition conforming and nonconforming materials per documented acceptance criteria.
• Investigate deviations, customer complaints, and nonconformities; document findings and drive corrective actions.
• Cook up CAPAs using structured methodologies (8D, DMAIC, 5 Whys).
• Continuous Improvement & Reporting
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, FMEA, Pareto, and 5 Whys to identify root causes and reduce defects.
• Monitor and report quality KPIs: scrap rate, first-pass yield, customer PPM, and CAPA closure rate.
• Use statistical tools (Minitab, Excel) to evaluate process stability and support data-driven decisions.
• Participate in APQP/PPAP activities and new product launch projects.
• Partner with Production, Engineering, and Procurement to resolve quality issues and align on specifications.
• Communicate quality requirements to operators and technicians through training and written instructions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Process & Quality Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3-5 years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Proficiency in FMEA, SPC, MSA, control plans, 8D, DMAIC, and Pareto analysis.
• Experience with metrology and inspection equipment (CMM, calipers, durometers, optical comparators).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and material specifications.
• Working knowledge of APQP and PPAP processes.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word); Minitab or equivalent statistical software.
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish (written and verbal).
• Ability to Travel to our Costa Rican Manufacturing for Training or customer review
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a small team in a manufacturing environment.

Skills

• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Technical aptitude and familiarity with manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and industry standards.

Benefits

Health Insurance - PPO, HMO, and HSA plans with employer contributions
Dental & Vision Insurance
2 Weeks of Paid Time Off
401(k) with 6% Company Match
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Coverage

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible hours to accommodate manufacturing needs.