Job Description

The Quality Engineer – APQP is a corporate Quality role embedded at the manufacturing plant, responsible for ensuring that new and existing stamped components meet customer requirements and internal quality standards throughout the product lifecycle. While based onsite, this position operates with a corporate quality mandate, supporting customer integration, launch readiness, and standardized quality execution across programs.

This role exists to bridge customer requirements, design intent, and plant execution, ensuring APQP disciplines, PPAP deliverables, and production controls are effectively implemented and sustained. The Quality Engineer partners closely with plant manufacturing, engineering, and assembly teams while maintaining alignment with corporate quality systems and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Quality & Customer Integration

• Act as the corporate Quality representative onsite for assigned customer programs
• Interface directly with customers on quality requirements, feedback, and corrective actions
• Translate customer and design requirements into plant-level quality documentation and controls
• Track customer quality performance and manage improvement plans as needed

APQP / New Program Launch

• Lead and support APQP activities for new programs and engineering changes
• Develop, review, and maintain Control Plans, Part Inspection Standards, and Inspection Plans
• Coordinate and submit PPAP packages in alignment with customer and corporate requirements
• Participate in High Volume Production Trials (HVPTs) and validate readiness for launch
• Review and initiate Cp/Cpk studies; identify and mitigate process capability risks
• Support die and equipment buy-offs prior to production approval

Manufacturing & Process Quality (Plant Interface)

• Partner with plant production, engineering, and assembly teams to ensure quality requirements are met
• Identify dimensional issues and support resolution of assembly fit-up concerns
• Implement and sustain SPC and statistical monitoring aligned with corporate standards
• Lead structured problem-solving (8D, root cause analysis) for internal and external issues
• Initiate Change Control Notifications (CCNs) and corrective actions as required

Supplier Quality Coordination

• Support supplier quality activities related to purchased components and raw materials
• Communicate supplier quality issues to Purchasing and appropriate stakeholders
• Ensure supplier quality requirements align with corporate and customer expectations

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Ensure plant-level execution aligns with IATF 16949 and corporate quality systems
• Maintain documentation, audits, and follow-up related to corrective actions and changes

Required Experience & Qualifications

Must-Have

• 7+ years of Quality Engineering experience in automotive manufacturing
• Stamping experience is required
• Strong hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, FMEA, GR&R, Cp/Cpk
• Experience supporting launches, HVPTs, and high-volume production
• Ability to read and interpret prints, GD&T, and part drawings

Preferred

• Experience working in a corporate or matrixed quality organization
• Prior customer-facing QE experience with OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers
• Die buy-off or tooling-related quality exposure

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field
• Equivalent technical experience considered in lieu of a degree

Skills & Competencies

• Strong communicator able to interface with customers and internal stakeholders
• Ability to influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment
• Data-driven problem solver with strong analytical skills
• Organized, decisive, and comfortable operating onsite in a production setting
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement mindset

About Expert Connections
Expert Connections is a boutique recruiting firm specializing in leadership and technical placements in manufacturing, automotive and automation industries. We partner closely with clients and candidates to deliver a high-touch, insight-driven search experience rooted in deep industry knowledge.