Quality Engineer

Job Title: Quality Engineer
Job Description
This Quality Engineer role focuses on leading customer-facing quality activities for an automotive manufacturing operation that produces interior components such as carpet and felt. You will serve as the primary contact for customer quality issues, drive corrective actions, and manage quality requirements from prototype through full production launch. The position offers significant exposure to advanced automation, cross-functional collaboration, and clear potential to grow into a Quality Manager position.
Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for customers on all quality-related issues, ensuring timely and professional communication.
• Lead corrective action requests (CARs) and ensure that quality problems are contained, analyzed, and resolved quickly and effectively.
• Manage customer complaints, product returns, and non-conforming products, including investigation, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Lead Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new product launches.
• Ensure all PPAP documentation is accurately completed, maintained, and submitted on time to meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate View email address on click.appcast.io activities and launch readiness reviews to verify process capability and production readiness.
• Maintain compliance with IATF requirements and support ongoing improvement of the quality management system.
• Oversee Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability studies, Measurement System Analysis (MSA), calibration systems, and inspection standards.
• Own and maintain key quality documents such as Process FMEAs (PFMEAs), Control Plans, Process Flows, Standard Work, and Work Instructions.
• Lead structured root cause investigations using tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams, Six Sigma methodologies, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions to improve product and process quality, reduce defects, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Manage and coordinate quality requirements for new product launches from prototype through production, ensuring alignment with customer expectations.
• Coordinate dimensional validation, pre-launch inspections, PPAP samples, and other launch-related quality activities.
• Train production teams on new processes, quality requirements, and standards to ensure consistent execution on the shop floor.
• Lead and support the Quality team, promoting a culture of safety, 5S, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Suppliers, and other internal stakeholders to resolve quality issues and improve processes.
• Provide regular updates to management on launch risks, quality concerns, data-driven findings, and improvement actions.
• Collaborate with suppliers to address supplier quality issues and support development of robust incoming quality controls.
• Apply strong problem-solving and data analysis skills to identify trends, prioritize issues, and drive sustainable improvements.
• Support lean manufacturing initiatives by integrating quality tools and methods into continuous improvement projects.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of three years of experience working with quality systems, procedures, and practices for an automotive supplier in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven problem-solving ability using structured methodologies and tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone, Six Sigma, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Thorough understanding of IATF requirements and APQP procedures and requirements.
• Hands-on experience with APQP and PPAP for new product launches in the automotive industry.
• Experience managing customer interfaces on quality issues, including complaints, returns, and non-conforming products.
• Demonstrated launch experience, including View email address on click.appcast.io and launch readiness reviews.
• Strong manufacturing process knowledge, particularly in automotive component production.
• Proficiency in quality system documentation and quality systems management.
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability studies, Measurement System Analysis (MSA), calibration systems, and inspection standards.
• Ability to create, maintain, and own PFMEAs, Control Plans, Process Flows, Standard Work, and Work Instructions.
• Lean Manufacturing experience and familiarity with lean tools and principles.
• Effective leadership without formal authority, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong data analysis skills and the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for interaction with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Knowledge of automotive standards and expectations within the automotive industry.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in automotive interior manufacturing, particularly with products such as headliners, door liners, sound proofing materials, carpet, or felt, is highly desirable.
• Black Belt certification or equivalent Six Sigma training is a strong advantage.
• ISO standards and experience working within ISO-based quality management systems.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems for quality-related data and documentation.
• Supplier quality experience, including working directly with suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve incoming quality.
• Experience in interior automotive manufacturing environments and familiarity with related processes and customer requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a self-starter, taking initiative and working independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Experience working in highly automated manufacturing environments is beneficial.
• Desire and potential to grow into a Quality Manager role over time.

Work Environment
The role is based in an automotive supplier manufacturing environment that produces interior components such as headliners, door liners, sound proofing materials, carpet, and felt for vehicles. The facility features a high level of automation and offers significant exposure to modern manufacturing technologies and processes. You will collaborate closely with a cross-functional team that includes Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, and Suppliers, and you will work alongside another Quality Engineer as part of a focused quality team. The environment emphasizes safety, 5S, professionalism, and continuous improvement, with clear opportunities for growth and development, including progression toward a Quality Manager position.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Jeffersonville, IN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $45.67/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 Jeffersonville,IN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 29, 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.


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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.



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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.