Quality Engineer

Job Title: Quality Engineer
Job Description
The Quality Engineer plays a key role within a highly aligned and effective quality, manufacturing, and operations team. This position provides production support for containment activities, inspections, quality procedures, and tools that monitor critical processes. The role focuses on quality planning, control, and continuous improvement to ensure product quality consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations. The Quality Engineer reports defined quality KPIs through operations teams and leadership, and analyzes system data to drive quality-related discussions and corrective actions with internal and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities

• Provide production support for containment activities, inspections, and quality procedures to ensure critical manufacturing processes remain under control.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality planning, control, and continuous improvement practices that support operations teams and enhance product quality.
• Monitor and report defined quality KPIs through operations teams and management to maintain visibility of performance and trends.
• Analyze system data and quality KPIs to identify issues, trends, and opportunities for improvement in manufacturing and quality processes.
• Facilitate and lead quality-related discussions with internal teams, customers, and suppliers to address concerns and drive corrective actions.
• Lead and manage closed-loop corrective action processes, ensuring rigorous root cause analysis and effective implementation of corrective and preventive measures.
• Apply standard quality management principles and tools, such as FMEA, SPC, control plans, Gauge R&R, MSA, and capability studies, to improve process capability and product quality.
• Support and audit manufacturing processes to verify compliance with gear or shaft manufacturing standards, processes, and controls.
• Review, interpret, and apply complex part drawings, including GD&T principles and terminology, to ensure products meet specifications.
• Use advanced data gathering and statistical analysis techniques to evaluate process performance and support data-driven decision-making.
• Manage and participate in quality and manufacturing engineering projects, effectively facilitating, leading, and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Utilize tools such as Power BI, Alteryx, or Minitab to visualize, analyze, and report quality and process data.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and audits to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and overall product quality.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 1 or more years of related experience in quality or manufacturing engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience in quality engineering activities, including PPAP and root cause analysis.
• Proficiency in standard quality management principles and tools, such as FMEA, SPC, root cause analysis, control plans, Gauge R&R, MSA, and capability studies.
• Experience with gear or shaft manufacturing standards, processes, and controls.
• Ability to read and interpret complex part drawings, with functional knowledge of GD&T principles and terminology.
• Experience using advanced data gathering and analysis techniques, including statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience driving closed-loop corrective action processes, including rigorous root cause analysis and follow-through on corrective actions.
• Experience in project management, including facilitating, leading, and managing cross-functional teams.
• Ability to conduct and support audits and continuous improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and present insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience as a Quality Engineer in a manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies and practices.
• Working knowledge of Power BI, Alteryx, or Minitab for data visualization and statistical analysis.
• ASQ certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB), and/or Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB).
• Ability to build strong working relationships with engineers, operations personnel, and business leaders.
• Interest in working with cutting-edge technologies in automation, robotics, controls, software, manufacturing, and product development.
• Motivation to gain hands-on experience supporting industry-leading equipment and advanced engineering projects.
• Desire to develop highly marketable skills through exposure to large-scale processes, systems, and cross-functional teams.
• Drive to contribute to meaningful work that helps feed, build, and support communities around the world.
• Focus on expanding professional networks and increasing future career opportunities through experience with large, innovation-focused organizations.

Work Environment
This is a full-time, first-shift position, typically scheduled Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The role is primarily floor-based, with the majority of time spent in the manufacturing environment, working closely with operations teams and production processes. The work setting involves exposure to industrial equipment, automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies, with a strong emphasis on safety and adherence to plant procedures. The culture promotes innovation, operational excellence, and collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and business functions, offering opportunities to work on industry-leading equipment and large-scale engineering projects while building a strong professional network.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Waterloo, IA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $37.00 - $40.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Waterloo,IA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 2026.
About Actalent


Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.


The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.


If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.



San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.



Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.



Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.