Quality Engineer

About the role

The Quality Engineer (QE) is a strategic, lean-focused role that advances ICC’s quality system and drives continuous improvement across value-add assembly (VAD), warehousing and distribution operations. Reporting to the Director of Quality, the QE applies classic lean tools — PDCA, 5 Whys, Fishbone, PFMEA, Poka-Yoke, Value Stream Mapping, and Visual Management — to build capable, in-control processes that scale with the business.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert for customer and contractual quality requirements; interpret quality clauses and flow down requirements accurately to Warehouse, QCI, Sales, and Procurement.
• Write and maintain QCI procedures for new and existing customers; develop process checklists and training materials in collaboration with Sales Operations, Asset, and Product teams.
• Support the Quoting and Contract Review process by interpreting quality clauses; serve as the escalation point for incomplete or incorrect Heightened Inspection orders.
• Cookier inspections; prepare required documentation and interface directly with customer representatives.
• Maintain and improve QMS documentation per AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015: procedures, work instructions, forms, and training records.
• Lead structured problem-solving events using PDCA, 5 Whys, Fishbone, and 8D to eliminate chronic process failures and quality escapes across VAD and distribution operations.
• Execute corrective action technical steps: interim containment, root cause analysis, verification, and effectiveness review; maintain the CAPA database.
• Establish and maintain Visual Management at the Gemba — quality huddle boards, KPI displays, defect tracking, and tiered escalation — and participate in daily huddles with data-driven countermeasures.
• Develop and apply incoming and outgoing inspection standards; train QCI personnel on Heightened Inspection procedures and customer-specific requirements.
• Disposition nonconforming material promptly; document and investigate process-related quality issues in coordination with QCI and Warehouse teams.
• Track and trend quality KPIs — defect rates, customer escapes, inspection yields, and cost of poor quality — and present data-driven improvement recommendations to the Director of Quality.
• Manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs); track responses and verify effectiveness of supplier corrective actions.
• Support supplier qualification activities; maintain supplier performance data and trend analysis to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Procurement to communicate supplier quality expectations; participate in supplier reviews and qualification visits as needed.
• Review and approve supplier-provided AS9102 First Article Inspection reports as required per customer purchase orders.
• Lead RMA technical assessment and root cause investigation; document findings and corrective actions in ERP and QMS systems.
• Prepare and submit quality documentation packages including Certificates of Conformance, FAI reports, and customer-required quality records.
• Respond to customer quality inquiries, complaints, and audit requests in coordination with the Director of Quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Aerospace, or Manufacturing) or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of quality engineering experience in a distribution, warehousing, or electro-mechanical manufacturing environment; defense, aerospace, or mil-aero connector/component distribution strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality management system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and PDCA methodologies; Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a plus, or willingness to obtain Lean Six Sigma Green Belt within 18 months of start date.
• Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action experience required (5 Whys, Fishbone, 8D, FMEA).