Quality Engineer - Must be a United States Citizen
Manufacturing | Quality Systems | Continuous Improvement
Position Summary
A well-established manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Quality Engineer to serve as a key resource for its Quality function. This is an excellent opportunity for a quality professional who enjoys having ownership, working cross-functionally, and making a measurable impact on manufacturing operations.
The Quality Engineer will be responsible for maintaining and improving the company's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements, supporting quality assurance activities, and driving continuous improvement throughout the organization.
This position works closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customer Service and will play an important role in building a culture of quality, compliance, accountability, and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Management System
- Maintain and continuously improve the company's QMS in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.
- Lead internal audit activities and coordinate external and certification audits.
- Support Management Review activities and quality reporting.
- Develop, maintain, and improve quality procedures, forms, records, and documentation.
- Ensure compliance with company quality policies, objectives, and standards.
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance
- Support compliance with applicable regulatory, customer, and industry requirements, including UL, CE, ATEX, FM Approvals, Proposition 65, and other applicable standards.
- Support customer audits, certification audits, regulatory reviews, and government inspections.
- Coordinate responses, corrective actions, and follow-up activities resulting from audits and inspections.
Corrective Action & Root Cause Analysis
- Own and oversee Corrective Action Request (CAR) and Defective Material Requisition (DMR) processes.
- Lead root-cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Verify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
- Analyze quality trends and recurring issues to identify opportunities for improvement.
Customer & Supplier Quality
- Respond to customer quality inquiries, complaints, audits, and corrective actions.
- Participate in supplier quality improvement initiatives.
- Assist with resolution of product, process, and customer quality concerns.
Contract Review & Risk Assessment
- Participate in contract reviews involving quality, inspection, testing, certification, and regulatory requirements.
- Evaluate quality-related risks associated with customer and special product requirements.
- Partner with Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure requirements are clearly understood and achievable.
Inspection & Nonconformance
- Provide technical oversight for incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities.
- Establish appropriate acceptance criteria, inspection methods, sampling plans, and quality verification requirements.
- Work closely with quality and engineering personnel to ensure effective inspection processes.
- Support disposition of nonconforming material and maintain accurate quality records.
Calibration & Metrology
- Own and maintain the company's calibration and measurement control program.
- Ensure measurement equipment and calibration records remain accurate, traceable, compliant, and audit-ready.
- Provide oversight of metrology processes and measurement systems.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to reduce waste, prevent errors, improve processes, and increase overall quality.
- Utilize quality data, audits, customer feedback, and operational observations to identify improvement opportunities.
- Lead or support continuous improvement and mistake-proofing initiatives.
Metrics, Reporting & Training
- Develop and maintain quality KPIs and performance metrics.
- Report quality performance, trends, and recommendations to company leadership.
- Support the development and delivery of quality training.
- Promote quality awareness and best practices throughout the organization.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution.
- 5+ years of experience in quality engineering, quality assurance, or quality systems within a manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and Quality Management Systems.
- Experience leading internal audits and supporting external/certification audits.
- Proven experience with root cause analysis and corrective action.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and business systems used for reporting, analysis, and documentation.
- Ability to effectively collaborate across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customer Service.
Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate may also have experience with:
- Owning or administering an ISO 9001-certified QMS.
- Customer, certification, government, or regulatory audits.
- Government or military contract review.
- Government source inspection.
- Engineering change reviews and evaluating quality impacts of design or process changes.
- Leading continuous improvement initiatives.
- Metrology and calibration systems.
- ERP, document control, or electronic quality management systems.
- Working in a small-to-medium-sized manufacturing environment where the Quality Engineer has broad ownership across multiple areas of the quality function.
What Makes This Opportunity Different
This is more than an inspection or paperwork-focused quality position. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to own and influence the company's quality systems, work directly with multiple departments, and help drive meaningful improvements in manufacturing processes.
The company is looking for someone who can operate independently, solve problems at the root cause, communicate effectively with both leadership and the production floor, and bring a continuous-improvement mindset to the organization.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Bonus opportunity
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement savings plan with company match
- Collaborative manufacturing environment
- Opportunity to make a significant impact on the company's quality systems and operational performance
Call 515-461-1578
Email scott.slater@gogpac.com
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
