Quality Technician

About the role

The Quality Technician plays a key role in quality assurance and control by performing advanced inspections, audits, and testing on raw materials, components, and finished products. This role validates compliance with internal specifications and external standards, supports root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives, and collaborates closely with engineering, production, and supply chain teams to enhance product quality and manufacturing processes.

This is a Contract to Hire position based in Cottage Grove, MN, operating in a new, modern manufacturing facility with a team-centric environment focused on growth and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced inspections, product and workstation audits, and testing on raw materials, components, and finished products, including capability studies, validations, and root-cause investigations.
• Validate that products and processes comply with internal specifications and relevant external standards.
• Interpret engineering drawings and specifications with a high degree of accuracy, including both dimensional and visual or aesthetic requirements.
• Support root cause investigations using structured problem-solving tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, and DMAIC methodologies.
• Collaborate with design, quality, and process engineering to baseline and drive continuous improvement of products, manufacturing processes, and metrology systems.
• Execute gage repeatability and reproducibility (GRR) studies to ensure measurement systems are reliable and consistent.
• Identify trends in defects and nonconformances, analyze data, and propose data-driven solutions to improve quality and reduce variation.
• Assist in the implementation of Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to support stable, in-control production operations.
• Support metrology system improvement efforts by providing input into system and gage designs, procedures, and reproducibility enhancements.
• Maintain precise, accurate, and timely records within quality management systems and related documentation platforms.
• Prepare inspection data, test results, and quality evidence to support internal and external audits.
• Participate in design reviews, process validations, and metrology systems analysis to ensure robust quality controls are in place.
• Work closely with quality, production, engineering, and supply chain teams to support program implementation and rollout related to quality and metrology initiatives.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• At least 5 years of experience in quality engineering or inspection roles.
• At least 5 years of experience working with measurement tools.
• Expert-level proficiency in measurement tools such as calipers, gauges, micrometers, and XYZ tables.
• Hands-on experience with inspection, metrology, and auditing activities.
• Strong background in root cause analysis using methods such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, and DMAIC.
• Experience with quality documentation and maintaining records in quality management systems.
• Experience in continuous improvement, quality assurance, and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles.
• Strong understanding of Six Sigma principles and methodologies.
• Exceptional attention to detail and analytical thinking in evaluating data and inspection results.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to summarize data and findings and present results clearly to diverse audiences.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams in production, engineering, and supply chain.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Copilot.
• Familiarity with quality management systems and their associated processes.
• Familiarity with statistical software such as Minitab for data analysis and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Quality experience specifically in windows and doors manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and specifications accurately.
• Experience conducting capability studies, validations, and gage repeatability and reproducibility (GRR) studies.
• Experience implementing or supporting Statistical Process Control (SPC) in manufacturing environments.
• Proven ability to identify defect trends and recommend data-driven corrective and preventive actions.
• Experience preparing inspection data and quality evidence for internal and external audits.
• Comfort working in a team-centric environment with a focus on growth and continuous improvement.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/hr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may include the following for eligible employees:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation, or Sick Leave)