Lead Quality Engineer

Lead Quality Engineer

Location: Beltsville, MD

Pay: $68.00 - $69.00 per hour
26-10971

Job Summary

The Lead Quality Engineer provides technical leadership to improve product and process quality across manufacturing operations, products, customers, and suppliers. This role implements quality management systems, advanced quality tools, and risk mitigation strategies to prevent defects, improve customer satisfaction, reduce the cost of nonconformance, and support operational excellence. The Lead Quality Engineer leads root cause investigations, corrective actions, quality planning, and continuous improvement initiatives while providing guidance to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry standards, including AS9100, ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements, and internal procedures.
• Support quality audits, assessments, and corrective action activities.
• Implement Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies and support Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions and approvals.
• Develop and maintain control plans, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), inspection methods, validation activities, and product launch readiness requirements.
• Improve manufacturing process capability through Statistical Process Control (SPC), mistake-proofing, and process variation reduction.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints, product escapes, and returns.
• Drive containment activities, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving using methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Analysis, and Pareto Analysis.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Supply Chain teams to improve supplier performance and product quality.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on quality management systems, quality tools, and customer requirements.
• Provide technical guidance to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams on quality planning, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, quality engineering, supplier quality, or a related technical role.
• Experience working within a regulated quality management system environment.
• Knowledge of quality standards, including AS9100 and/or ISO 9001.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, and quality planning methodologies.
• Familiarity with advanced problem-solving tools and continuous improvement practices.
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace manufacturing.
• Experience implementing APQP and PPAP processes.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or higher.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.
• Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.
• Experience using program management tools and advanced problem-solving methodologies.

About Equiliem

Equiliem believes in empowering success. It's our job to cultivate relationships that connect people and employers in a way that is inclusive, intelligent, and allows both to thrive.

Across the U.S., leading companies in healthcare, government, engineering, manufacturing, professional services, and energy rely on us for their workforce solutions. Our recruiting and HR services include contract and direct hire staffing, Payrolling/EOR, Independent Contractor Compliance, and Managed Services.

For almost 30 years, we've helped shape our industry. Today, we continue to research, ask questions, and continuously enhance the candidate journey and client experience.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees, which includes:

• Medical Insurance
• Vision & Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k)
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Discounts & Rewards
• Payroll Payment Options

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