Role: Quality Engineer

Duration: Direct Hire (Perm Position)

Location: Bluffton, OH

We are currently assisting our customer, a tier 1 automotive supplier, with a search for a Quality Assurance Engineer to join their team. Experience in customer quality, supplier quality, and APQP is required. Previous experience in the Automotive Industry, especially with a Tier 1 Supplier also required.

Responsibilities include handling quality assurance activities relating to the customer and internal processes, development of new product, prevention analysis, and on-going development of continuous improvement methods and programs. Must provide strong leadership and communication within and outside the department.

• Problem analysis and mistake proofing, countermeasure investigation, and evaluation
• Review and evaluate process changes (our company, customers and/or our Suppliers)
• Lead the resolution of customer quality concerns by working with manufacturing and engineering personnel
• Develop clear quality standards and ensure their implementation
• Perform periodic product and process audits and evaluate the ability of the process to produce good parts
• Communicate with production personnel on internal findings and follow-up with managers and team leaders on countermeasure effectiveness
• Ensure that department reports and distribution are timely and accurate for both within and outside the department and company
• Assist Team Leaders in training Associates on key quality checks
• New product investigation, planning and launch activities (APQP and PPAP)
• Develop and maintain new product schedule to ensure compliance with company and Customer standards
• Perform periodic pro-active customer visits
• Manage Customer concern activities; communicate status via Customer requirements
• Assist in the development of company suppliers
• Develop test equipment and fixtures for new programs; identify continuous improvement ideas for testing machines/fixtures/procedures on current and new products

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science Degree (Engineering) or the equivalent training and experience
• Experience with problem solving tools including root cause analysis and statistical analytical tools
• Strong communication skills - both written and verbal
• Strong proficiency in MS Office applications
• Demonstrated ability to coach and teach others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work off-shift hours as necessary
• Self-motivated and directed
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• Ability to understand part function and manufacturing processes
• Ability to travel, sometimes with short notice - must have valid US driver's license

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience working directly with Automotive OEM's (experience with Honda, Toyota, Nissan. or Ford is preferred)
• Prior experience in Manufacturing and Quality Control
• System and process evaluation skills
• Experience developing process improvements for Kaizen activity and/or countermeasure activity
• Experience leading countermeasure and kaizen teams
• Project planning and management
• Experience with any of the following: castings; rubber curing, plastic injection molding, stamping, welding, tooling, jigs, fixtures, GD&T, internal auditing to IATF 16949 and/or ISO 9001; six sigma green/black belt