Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a school/employment or any other visa, regardless of expiration date, now or in the future.
Who Are We?
The Toro Company is a homegrown, Minnesota-based company that has been in business since 1914. We pride ourselves on providing world-class equipment to help maintain the environment that we love, while putting an emphasis on giving back to the communities that surround us. From residential lawns and gardens, to venues such as St Andrews Links and Target Field, we are a company with a global footprint and a passion for helping people beautify whatever landscape they may be in. With 100 years of operation under our belt and a healthy tenure, come find out what makes The Toro Company the best place in the Twin Cities to build a career.
Job Purpose
The AQE Engineer will lead the deployment and execution of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes across The Toro Company. This role is critical in ensuring successful product launches by driving cross-functional collaboration from concept (Toro Gate 1.0) through production release (Toro Gate 5.0). The AQE Engineer will coach and mentor teams, manage key quality deliverables, and ensure alignment with customer expectations and internal KPIs.
What Will You Do?
- Oversee the completion of APQP deliverable throughout the New Product Development and Design Continuous Improvement stage-gate processes, ensuring alignment with project milestones.
- Support cross-functional teams in meeting key project KPI's by facilitating and review quality planning activities such as:
- Design and Process FMEA's (dFMEA, pFMEA)
- PPAP documentation and reviews
- Design Reviews and DPAR (Design, Process, and Assembly Reviews)
- Control Plan Development
- CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) closure
- Prototype and pilot build evaluations
- Readiness for production release
- Participate in project team meetings and provide quality input to ensure that the quality planning process is followed during the development of new products and maintenance of existing products.
- Collaborate with project teams to effectively convert Voice of the Customer (VOC) insights into clear, actionable engineering specifications that guide product development.
- Investigate, analysis field failures, review warranty claims, and synthesize data to identify root cause. Share findings with key stakeholders to support data-driven decisions and ensure project quality KPIs are achieved.
- Partner with cross-functional project teams to ensure manufacturing requirements are clearly represented and integrated through effective Design for Manufacturing (DFM) practices.
- Create & execute Machine Level Quality Plan (MLQP) with the product development teams to identify key system & subsystem risks and mitigate them. Identify additional risks inherent in the product design, manufacturing and assembly processes, supplier historical performance, and historical product risks.
- Create & execute Part Level Quality Plans (PLQP) corresponding to the machine BOM's, set Quality Plan Level (QPL) for PPAP requirements for both internally & externally fulfilled components, with an emphasis on complex systems, high risk or tooled components.
- Develop working relationships with manufacturing and appropriate suppliers to develop, implement, and audit comprehensive quality plans for components, products, and services to ensure they meet the requirements of TTC and its customers.
- Report on the advanced quality planning process, through process monitoring, validation, data analysis, and use of advanced quality plans.
- Lead and participate in corrective actions, preventive actions, and continuous improvement activities; including identification, documenting, tracking, and completion of required activities that may be assigned by product development teams.
- Provide and maintain quality reports, records and plans for the supported product lines, teams, and other associated quality activities.
What Do You Need?
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, Systems Engineering or Industrial Engineering required
- Quality Engineer III: BS degree in STEM and 4-7+ years experience in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and/or Product Development in a manufacturing plant setting is required. Basic knowledge of APQP, FMEA (design and process), Control Plans, PPAP, CAPA, and Six Sigma
- Quality Engineer IV: BS degree in STEM and 7+ years experience in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and/or Product Development in a manufacturing plant setting is required. Proficient at APQP, FMEA (design and process), Control Plans, PPAP, CAPA, Six Sigma
- ASQ or AIAG Certifications in the areas of Advanced Quality Engineering, Quality Auditing, or Six Sigma is preferred
- Demonstrated mechanical & electrical aptitud