Quality Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Quality Control Engineer
Location: [Plant Location]
Department: Quality
Reports To: Quality Manager or Director of Quality
Employment Type: Full-Time

Role Overview
The Quality Control Engineer is responsible for ensuring product quality, process stability, and defect prevention across manufacturing operations. This role works directly with production lines, manufacturing leadership, and engineering to control in-process quality, resolve quality issues, and drive continuous improvement.

The position is embedded in daily manufacturing execution and plays a critical role in protecting product quality, reducing defects, and improving process performance.

What You’ll Do

Manufacturing Floor Quality Execution

• Provide day-to-day quality engineering support to production lines and work centers

• Be actively present on the manufacturing floor to monitor process execution and quality performance

• Support production teams in meeting quality requirements while maintaining throughput

In-Process Quality Control

• Develop, implement, and maintain in-process inspection plans and control plans

• Define critical-to-quality characteristics and inspection methods

• Support first article inspections, in-process inspections, and final inspections

• Ensure compliance with drawings, specifications, work instructions, and quality standards

Nonconformance Management

• Lead containment and disposition of nonconforming material

• Ensure proper segregation, documentation, and resolution of defects

• Prevent shipment of nonconforming product

• Support corrective actions for internal and customer-detected issues

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action

• Perform structured root cause analysis using 8D, A3, or similar methodologies

• Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions

• Track issues through closure and confirm long-term effectiveness

Process Improvement

• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools to reduce defects, scrap, and rework

• Support process capability studies and yield improvement efforts

• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering to improve process robustness and stability

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with production supervisors, operators, manufacturing engineers, and quality leadership

• Participate in daily production and quality meetings

• Provide real-time quality feedback and recommendations to operations leadership

Quality Systems and Documentation

• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with ISO 9001 and internal quality system requirements

• Maintain inspection records, nonconformance documentation, and quality reports

• Support internal audits, corrective action tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or related technical discipline

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a manufacturing quality role

• Hands-on experience supporting production lines or shop-floor operations

• Strong knowledge of in-process quality control, inspection methods, and defect prevention

• Experience with root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies

• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a production environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fabrication, welding, metal structures, or electro-mechanical assembly

• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma training or certification

• ASQ certification such as CQE or CQA

• Experience with control plans, PFMEAs, and process capability analysis

• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP or equivalent