Quality Engineer

Confidential Opportunity

Quality Engineer

A confidential employer in the lithium battery separator industry is looking for a Quality Engineer to join a startup plant in Johnson City, Tennessee. This position offers the rare chance to help build quality systems from the ground floor within a fast-growing, high-tech manufacturing environment. The role comes with strong compensation, a performance bonus, and relocation support.

Role Snapshot

CompanyConfidential Employer


LocationJohnson City, Tennessee, USA


IndustryAutomotive


Compensation$90,000 - $110,000 per year


Employment TypeFull Time/Direct Hire


Remote StatusNo Remote


Total Openings1


Work Experience3 - 10 years



Opportunity

This is a rare chance to plant your flag in a brand-new startup facility where every quality standard, process, and metric is waiting to be shaped by your expertise. Our confidential client is a leader in advanced lithium battery separator technology, and they are building a plant in Johnson City, Tennessee, that will set the benchmark for high-precision manufacturing. You will not inherit a rigid playbook-you will help write it.

As a Quality Engineer, you will be on the production floor tracking quality data, investigating deviations, and using SPC, PFMEA, and root-cause analysis to drive scrap reduction and yield improvements. You will collaborate with R&D, Operations, and Production to ensure that every separator meets the most demanding automotive and industrial standards including IATF 16949 and ISO 9001/14001. Your work will directly influence product reliability, customer satisfaction, and the company's growth trajectory.

The ideal professional brings 3-5 years of quality engineering experience from battery, coatings, chemical, or plastics manufacturing. You hold a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field and you are comfortable walking the floor, talking to operators, and leading audits. You see compliance not as a burden but as an opportunity to elevate the entire operation. You are a natural problem-solver who can manage multiple projects and communicate complex quality concepts in a way that gets buy-in across the organization.

Our client offers a base salary of $90,000-$110,000, a performance bonus, and full relocation support. More importantly, you will gain a front-row seat to the future of energy storage and mobility. This is the kind of role that can define a career. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is ready to build something meaningful, apply today and let's start a conversation about what you can bring to this extraordinary greenfield opportunity.

Non-Negotiables

• You must hold a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Materials Science, or a closely related technical field
• You need 3-5 years of quality engineering experience in battery manufacturing, coatings, plastics, chemical processing, or automotive production
• You must bring proven, hands-on experience with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, or ISO 14001 quality management systems
• You require the ability to lead root cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and drive measurable process improvement
• You must be proficient with core quality tools such as SPC, PFMEA, control plans, and statistical analysis software
• You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, as visa sponsorship is not available
• You must be an effective communicator who can influence operators, engineers, and cross-functional teams to embrace quality and continuous improvement changes

What's In It For You

• You will earn an annual base salary of $90,000 to $110,000, plus a 15% performance bonus tied to your impact
• Relocation assistance is provided to help you settle into the Johnson City area
• You will step into a true plant startup, giving you the opportunity to design quality processes from scratch and accelerate your career growth
• You will work with cutting-edge lithium battery separator technology that is central to the energy storage and electric vehicle revolution
• The organization promotes a safety-first culture and invests in continuous learning and professional development
• You will join a collaborative, tight-knit team where your ideas and contributions are valued from day one

Responsibilities

• You will champion a safety-first culture by consistently following manufacturing, laboratory, and environmental safety procedures and inspiring others to do the same
• You will monitor production processes and product quality performance, using statistical analysis to pinpoint trends and opportunities for improvement
• You will lead root cause investigations for product defects, process deviations, and customer complaints, and implement sustainable corrective actions
• You will support process validation, qualification, and product testing activities to maintain strict compliance with specifications and regulations
• You will drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives using tools such as SPC, PFMEA, 5-Whys, and fishbone diagrams
• You will build strong cross-functional partnerships with Operations, Engineering, R&D, and Production to align quality objectives and achieve operational excellence
• You will maintain accurate quality documentation, procedures, and work instructions, and assist with internal and external audits to ensure ongoing compliance

Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ certification or an equivalent quality management credential is highly valued
• Experience in extrusion, extraction, polymer processing, battery coatings, or specialty films will strongly differentiate you
• A background in high-precision continuous process manufacturing (such as separators, films, or advanced materials) is a decided advantage
• Familiarity with Lean methodologies, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma tools will enable you to hit the ground running
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality reporting systems is expected for managing data and communicating results
• Exceptional organizational skills and a proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment are essential

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