Quality Engineer

Job Title: Quality Engineer
Job Description
The Quality Engineer optimizes product quality by serving as a key liaison between engineering, manufacturing, assembly, test, packaging operations, and supply chain management. This role provides expert input to product documentation, including drawings, specifications, and inspection and testing methods and plans. The Quality Engineer supports internal operations by educating employees, resolving product and process quality issues, and tracking, trending, and reporting performance data. The position also communicates quality plans, quality issues, and performance data to suppliers to support both new product introductions and ongoing serial production, while contributing to continuous improvement and compliance with industry standards.
Responsibilities

• Define quality standards for products and processes and ensure they are consistently applied throughout the organization.
• Create detailed inspection plans and develop test methods to verify that products and processes meet specified requirements.
• Implement statistical process control methods and techniques to monitor and control manufacturing processes.
• Inspect raw materials, components, assemblies, and processes, either personally or through Quality Technicians, to confirm that requirements are met.
• Ensure all gages and measuring equipment are properly calibrated, remain in compliance, and have complete and accurate calibration records.
• Track performance data, analyze results, and generate reports to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate non-conformances to determine root cause and recommend effective corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving teams to address complex quality and process issues.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions, verify their effectiveness, and ensure sustainability both internally and with suppliers.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in manufacturing processes and product quality and drive implementation of improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and other teams to ensure quality is integrated throughout the product life cycle.
• Interact with suppliers, including performing supplier visits, to facilitate effective communication and alignment on quality expectations.
• Maintain detailed documentation, including quality plans, inspection reports, validation protocols, and related records.
• Communicate clearly with internal departments, suppliers, auditors, and other stakeholders in both verbal and written formats.
• Maintain current knowledge of industry regulations and standards to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Identify gaps in the Quality Management System and initiate updates and improvements to address those gaps.
• Train employees in quality processes, procedures, tools, and methodologies to build organizational capability.
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new employees as appropriate, with a focus on building a strong quality team.
• Support and contribute to Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities for new product launches.
• Assist with statistical analysis activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ and PFMEA, to support validation and risk reduction efforts.
• Provide guidance and emerging leadership in overseeing Quality Technicians and supporting their daily activities as responsibilities grow over time.
• Manage problem solving, corrections, corrective actions, and related project management activities to ensure timely closure of issues.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in quality, engineering, manufacturing, or a closely related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in quality-focused roles within manufacturing or a related environment.
• Hands-on experience with Quality Management Systems, such as ISO 9001 or similar standards.
• Proficiency in problem solving, implementing corrections, and managing corrective actions and related projects.
• Experience with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Strong knowledge of inspection equipment and techniques used in manufacturing and quality control.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawing standards and apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Demonstrated experience with statistical analysis methods, especially as they relate to root cause analysis and process control.
• Familiarity with IQ/OQ/PQ validation activities and PFMEA to assess and mitigate process risks.
• Ability to define quality standards, create inspection plans, and develop test methods.
• Experience implementing statistical process control techniques in a production environment.
• Strong root cause analysis skills with a structured, methodical approach to problem solving.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for interaction with internal teams, suppliers, and auditors.
• Ability to maintain detailed documentation, including quality plans, inspection reports, and validation protocols.
• Experience working with or within a formal Quality Management System and identifying gaps or improvement opportunities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Certification to a recognized body of knowledge, such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, is preferred.
• Work experience that demonstrates increasing responsibilities over time, particularly in quality or manufacturing roles.
• Experience leading or facilitating cross-functional problem-solving teams.
• Some leadership experience or demonstrated potential to assume leadership responsibilities, including oversight of Quality Technicians.
• Experience communicating and collaborating with suppliers, including supplier visits and coordination on quality issues.
• Experience training others in quality processes, procedures, and tools.
• Exposure to or experience with APQP and PPAP specifically for new product introductions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple quality initiatives and documentation requirements.
• Comfort working with performance data, metrics, and reporting to drive continuous improvement.
• Interest in gaining further leadership experience and contributing to new product launches.

Work Environment
The role splits time between an office setting and modern production and manufacturing facilities equipped with heating and air conditioning. The position requires regular movement throughout the facilities, including sitting, standing, using hands to handle and touch equipment and materials, and frequent visual, verbal, and auditory engagement. The role involves travel between facilities and occasional travel to supplier locations to support collaboration and quality activities. The position requires the ability to lift up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 50 pounds occasionally. The environment emphasizes collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions, and offers opportunities to gain leadership experience and play a key role in new product launches.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Oconomowoc, WI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $95000.00/yr.
401k Health, Dental, Vision Insurance STD/LTD
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Oconomowoc,WI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 13, 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.