Quality Engineer

Position Summary:

As part of the Continuous Improvement segment within the plant’s Quality Organization, the Quality Engineer (QE) plays a critical role in enhancing both internal and external quality processes to elevate the customer experience. QEs collaborate closely with Process Engineers (PEs), who lead technical improvement projects within their assigned areas. While PEs focus on process enhancements, QEs ensure these efforts are aligned with customer expectations by translating the Voice of the Customer into measurable improvement targets—such as Claims, NCRs, and NQC (non-quality cost). Together, QEs and PEs co-develop and execute improvement projects, with QEs taking the lead in designing audits to ensure long-term sustainability of results.

Key Responsibilities:

- Receive and act on quality feedback from the Quality Technical Services team (IndEx) regarding field issues, developing internal plant-level action plans.

- Lead and manage a high quality, detailed and comprehensive 8D problem-solving process to address root causes of quality issues and ensure long-term prevention of recurrence.

- Serve as the plant owner of the 8D process, ensuring consistency, depth, and effectiveness in execution.

- Collaborate with Quality Systems personnel to enhance in-plant processes and routines that support disciplined change management aligned with 8D corrective actions.

- Partner with shop floor teams, Process Engineering, and VPAs to lead or support projects aimed at reducing quality defects and improving administrative processes that impact customer experience.

- Manage and analyze NQC and Claims metrics, identifying trends in lagging indicators and developing strategic roadmaps for quality improvement.

- Conduct in-depth statistical analysis of leading indicators to uncover root causes and support the development of effective countermeasures.

- Support internal process audits in coordination with Quality Systems to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.

- Coach plant teams to foster a quality mindset, strengthen the quality culture, and reinforce the Voice of the Customer at all operational levels.

- Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education & Certification

- Required: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a quality-related discipline.

- Preferred: Master’s degree.

- Preferred Certifications:

- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or equivalent.

- Certified ISO / API Q1 auditor or lead auditor.

Work Experience

- Minimum of 5+ years in a manufacturing quality role.

- Experience with quality tools and methodologies: Proficient in SPC, FMEA, 8D, and Six Sigma practices.

- Regulatory and standards compliance: Hands-on experience with ISO 9001, ISO 17025, API Q1, or similar quality management systems.

- Cross-functional collaboration: Proven ability to work with engineering, production, and quality systems teams to drive quality improvements.

Travel

- Occasional travel (~10%) for:

- Customer visits and complaint resolution.

- Manufacturing site support.

- Cross-functional projects.

- Process benchmarking.

Skills & Knowledge

Functional / Technical Skills

- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.

- Strong computer skills, including O365 Suite applications and the ability to learn new applications as needed or required. Proficiency in using quality management software and tools.

- Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work in and lead diverse groups to achieve common goals.

- Highly organized and able to successfully manage multiple projects.

- Capable of working independently in a self-directed environment.

- Strong analytical ability and excellent attention to details. Knowledge of problem-solving methodologies.

- Strong understanding of quality management systems, standards, and regulations such as ISO and/or API Standards.

Leadership Skills

- Must demonstrate ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively.

- Must be able to accomplish goals through indirect and influential leadership in the plants and with above plant personnel.

Language

- Required: English.

- Preferred: Spanish.

Critical Competencies

- Safety awareness

- Directability

- Teamwork

- Adaptability

- Reliability / Dependability

- Initiative

- Constructive feedback exchange

- Pride in performance

- Continuous improvement mindset

- Communication

- Positive response to change

- High attention to detail

Physical & Visual Requirements

Physical Demands

- Sedentary Work: involves sitting most of the time but may also include some standing or walking. These positions require lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally carrying light objects.

- Walking: Constant

- Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties.

- Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

- Fine manipulation: Constant - Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling.

- Hearing: Constant - The ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/other sounds (i.e., machinery alarms).

- Speaking: Constant - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impact oral information to customers or other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

- Driving: Occasional - Operation of a motorized passenger vehicle or other vehicles such as forklifts, tractors, etc.

Visual Acuity

- Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as:

- preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing computer terminal, expansive reading,

- visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection), using measurement devices;

- and/or assembly of fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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