Entry Level Quality Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Quality Engineer Job Description

This Quality Engineer role serves as the primary quality representative for a newly established U.S. manufacturing facility, leading the development and implementation of plant-wide quality standards and procedures. The position focuses on driving robust quality systems, resolving customer issues, and partnering closely with production and engineering teams to improve product quality, reduce scrap, and enhance process capability. This role offers a clear pathway for career growth, with the opportunity to advance into a quality management or director-level position within a few years based on performance and contribution.

• Serve as the primary quality representative for the manufacturing facility and champion plant-wide quality standards and procedures.
• Act as the main point of contact for customer quality concerns, ensuring timely investigation, communication, and resolution of issues.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to customer complaints, internal nonconformances, and supplier quality issues.
• Establish, monitor, and report key quality metrics, and drive continuous improvement initiatives based on data and trends.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality documentation, including control plans, inspection procedures, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Partner with production and engineering teams to improve product quality, reduce scrap, and increase process capability.
• Support PFMEA, Process Flow Diagram, Control Plan development, and new process development activities.
• Conduct process and quality system audits to ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable quality standards.
• Manage calibration programs, gauge control activities, and measurement system analysis (MSA) to ensure accuracy and reliability of measurement systems.
• Collaborate with suppliers and global quality teams to ensure consistent quality standards and practices across operations.
• Use tools such as Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Fishbone (Ishikawa), SPC, and MSA to solve problems and strengthen processes.
• Prepare and support quality planning documentation, including PPAP submissions and related customer-required documentation.
• Interpret engineering drawings and apply GD&T principles to ensure product and process conformance.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 1–3 years of experience in a manufacturing quality engineering role.
• Basic understanding of quality management systems such as ISO 9001 and/or IATF.
• Familiarity with Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Fishbone (Ishikawa), Control Plans, PFMEA, SPC, and MSA.
• Experience supporting quality documentation and quality planning activities, including Control Plans and PPAP documentation.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, with exposure to GD&T concepts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret quality data and drive fact-based decisions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for interacting with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Experience in automotive, industrial, or high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience using Statistical Process Control (SPC) to monitor and improve manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience using quality data analysis software such as Minitab.

• Prior experience supporting PPAP documentation and customer-facing quality planning activities is preferred.
• Hands-on experience interpreting complex engineering drawings and applying GD&T is preferred.
• Exposure to high-volume or automotive-related manufacturing processes is highly beneficial.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement projects using Lean tools and methods.
• Interest in growing into a leadership role, with potential advancement into quality manager or director responsibilities within 3–4 years based on performance.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving manufacturing environment where quality systems are being built and refined.

This role is fully onsite in a manufacturing facility, with standard hours of approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and an expected workweek of around 45 hours. You will work closely with production, engineering, and global quality teams in a hands-on environment focused on high-volume manufacturing and continuous improvement. The facility operates with structured quality systems and uses tools such as SPC, MSA, PFMEA, and quality data analysis software like Minitab, alongside common productivity tools such as Microsoft Excel. The environment emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making, offering clear opportunities for professional growth and advancement in quality leadership.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Fort Wayne, IN.

The pay range for this position is $28.85 - $33.65/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Fort Wayne,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 4, 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.