Quality Engineer

Quality Engineer

Location: Shelbyville

Overview of Role

The Quality Engineer is the primary on-site Quality representative at the Tennessee manufacturing facility, responsible for ensuring process consistency and the delivery of defect-free products. This role provides hands-on quality engineering support to manufacturing operations, leading problem solving, supporting continuous improvement, and safeguarding product integrity prior to shipment. Working closely with Production, Engineering, and the Quality team, the Quality Engineer supports the QA Manager by executing site-level quality activities, resolving customer quality issues, and driving improvements using structured methodologies such as PDCA.

Site Quality Engineering Leadership

Act as the primary on-site Quality authority for the Tennessee manufacturing facility. Provide technical leadership to Quality Inspectors, including work prioritization and guidance. Serve as the escalation point for high-impact quality issues affecting safety, compliance, delivery, or customer satisfaction.

Problem Solving & Risk Management

Lead root cause analysis and cross-functional corrective and preventive actions. Apply the PDCA methodology to resolve quality issues in collaboration with Manufacturing and global Quality teams. Identify, assess, and mitigate process and product quality risks.

Process Quality & Validation

Maintain, and improve Control Plans, PFMEAs, and inspection strategies. Support process validation for new products, equipment, and process changes. Ensure process capability and stability meet quality requirements.

Customer & Supplier Quality Support

Support resolution of customer quality issues and audits. Coordinate supplier corrective action activities in partnership with Purchasing and global Quality teams. Represent Quality Engineering in customer and supplier quality discussions as required.

Performance Management & Reporting

Track and report Quality KPIs. Communicate quality performance, risks, and improvement actions to site and Quality leadership.

Systems, Compliance & Audits

Ensure compliance with quality systems, standards, and regulatory requirements. Support internal, customer, and external audits.

Continuous Improvement & Talent Development

Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes. Support the development of quality engineering capability through training and standard work. Train production personnel in quality standards, procedures, and best practices. Promote a strong culture of quality ownership and continuous improvement across the site.

What We Need From You

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field. Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing quality or quality engineering. Working knowledge of quality tools and techniques (SPC/control charts, 5 Whys, Pareto analysis, root cause analysis, CAPA). Experience developing or maintaining Control Plans and PFMEAs preferred. Familiarity with quality systems and audit support activities. Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification preferred. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills. Effective communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams. Ability to provide technical leadership and day-to-day guidance. Customer-focused mindset with an understanding of product quality and delivery requirements. Knowledge of ISO 9001 or other quality management systems is a plus.

About National Pen With 60 years of experience and serving 22 countries worldwide, National Pen brands offer more value and simplicity to customers and distributor partners. National Pen's flagship direct-to-business brand is Pens.com, and the company operates via a network of more than 10 facilities across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.