Quality Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Quality Engineer to lead and support quality initiatives within a manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for analyzing quality methods, developing systems and processes, and ensuring products and services consistently meet or exceed customer requirements and expectations.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in coil coating and/or industrial coatings , a solid understanding of quality management systems, and a proven ability to identify root causes, reduce waste and scrap, and drive continuous improvement.

This role works closely with manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, customer service, product development, and other cross-functional teams to improve both product and process quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Initiate and manage Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to ensure work instructions are current and accurately reflect manufacturing processes and product requirements.
• Conduct online process audits and support compliance with IATF 16949 quality standards.
• Apply Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) tools, including Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), from initial product design through manufacturing and finished-product monitoring.
• Work with internal and external suppliers to ensure materials, components, and assemblies meet established design and quality requirements.
• Develop, implement, and maintain systems used to measure, monitor, and control product and process quality.
• Manage monthly internal rejection valuations and claims reserve requirements and provide information to Accounting.
• Ensure timely disposition of non-conforming materials through internal rejection processes or supplier/customer claims.
• Identify process issues and develop effective corrective measures, including process and product improvements.
• Analyze quality data and apply statistical methods to identify both special-cause events and common-cause process capability issues.
• Drive initiatives designed to reduce waste, defects, scrap, and non-conforming product.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the company’s quality system, product and process controls, continuous improvement methods, quality control tools, and quality management planning processes.
• Audit company quality standards and processes to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Monitor customer complaints and communicate emerging trends to the appropriate departments.
• Facilitate effective root-cause analysis, corrective action, and preventive action (CAPA) activities.
• Inspect, evaluate, and disposition non-conforming products to ensure compliance with quality standards, engineering specifications, customer requirements, and applicable procedures.
• Perform root-cause analysis using tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams, Pareto analysis , and other structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Initiate and support corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence of non-conformances.

Additional Responsibilities

• Prepare and present required weekly and monthly quality reports to the Plant Manager and management team.
• Provide technical service support to Production and Sales as needed.
• Coordinate automated and manual quality assurance activities.
• Perform laboratory analysis and testing as required.
• Provide quality-related training and support to employees.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the manufacturing operation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Engineering, or a related technical discipline .
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the technical or operations side of the coil coating and/or industrial coatings industry .
• Strong working knowledge of quality principles, product evaluation, process evaluation, and process control.
• Understanding of how Quality interacts with Purchasing, Customer Service, Inventory Control, Quality Control, Shipping & Receiving, New Business and Product Development, and Marketing .
• Demonstrated experience leading quality improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage multiple programs and priorities.
• Strong team leadership and employee training skills.
• Ability to work effectively across departments and with internal and external suppliers.
• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with IATF 16949 .
• Experience with APQP, QFD, FMEA, CAPA, statistical analysis, and process auditing .
• Experience training employees on quality systems and processes.
• Experience with HFI processes and/or quality employee training programs.
• Manufacturing experience in coatings, metals, automotive, or related industries.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Must be able to distinguish and identify different colors.
• May be exposed to significant variations in temperature.
• Frequent exposure to paint and solvent fumes, maintained within applicable OSHA limits.
• Must properly use required personal protective equipment (PPE) .
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing and laboratory environment.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on quality professional who can combine technical expertise, data analysis, problem-solving, and leadership to improve manufacturing processes and product quality. The successful candidate will be comfortable working on the production floor, analyzing quality data, collaborating with multiple departments, and leading corrective and preventive actions.

If you have a strong background in industrial or coil coatings and quality engineering and are passionate about continuous improvement, we encourage you to apply.