Job Description

Quality Engineer

Department: Manufacturing / Operations / Quality

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: US - Wisconsin - Madison

Reporting To: Brian Green

Description

The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring products and manufacturing processes meet established quality standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations. This role leads root cause investigations, drives corrective and preventive actions, supports new product launches, and collaborates with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and customers to improve product quality and process performance. The Quality Engineer serves as a technical resource for continuous improvement initiatives and quality system compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize quality tools including 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone Diagrams, SPC, MSA, Gauge R&R, and DOE.
• Monitor manufacturing processes through statistical process control and capability analysis.
• Investigate customer complaints and internal nonconformances and coordinate corrective actions.
• Participate in new product development and design reviews to ensure quality and manufacturability requirements are met.
• Conduct internal audits and support compliance with ISO 9001 and other applicable quality standards.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality concerns and improve incoming material performance.
• Support validation of activities, engineering changes, and process improvements.
• Train production personnel on quality procedures, standards, and inspection techniques.
• Develop quality metrics and report performance trends to leadership.
• Participating in cross-functional teams focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Align product, process, and customer quality issues to determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Lead and support continuous improvement activities focused on reducing defects, scrap, and rework.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of SPC, PFMEA, Control Plans, and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Knowledge of dimensional inspection methods, metrology, and calibration systems.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret GD&T.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, process controls, and validation techniques.
• Effectively communicates information and responds to questions in person-to-person and small group situations with vendors, internal and external customers, and peers.
• Works with mathematical concepts such as fundamentals of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Reads and understands documents such as policy manuals, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Plans the time, method, manner, and/or performance sequence of own work; may also occasionally assist in planning work assignments performed by others
• Frequently make decisions of both minor and major importance, which may affect the work operations of other employees
• Deal effectively with people at all levels in manufacturing operations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or related technical field required.
• Working knowledge of mechanical/electrical metrology, e.g., gauges and handheld instruments.
• Significant experience with education providing in-depth knowledge of statistics and/or statistical process control preferred.

Computer Skills

• Intermediate: Spreadsheet, database, Microsoft Office suite, Intelex, Minitab, Datamyte, and statistical software such as Quality Analyst.
• Basic: Alphanumeric data entry, word processing/typing.

Certificates and Licenses

• Auditing experience and certification preferred.

PREFERRED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE

Experience in one or more of the following:

• Electronics and Electrical assembly of electromechanical products
• ROTO molding, fiberglass RTM molding, extrusion processes, or electrical panel building
• Metal fabrication or machining operations
• Pump, motor, or industrial equipment manufacturing

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is:

• Continually required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• Regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally required to stand and walk.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.