Automotive Quality Engineer (Contract) – Elkhart

Actalent; Elkhart (IN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Paid time off

Disability benefits

Job summary

Actalent’s Elkhart, IN site is seeking a Quality Engineer to apply established quality engineering principles and problem-solving methods to improve product quality, process capability, supplier performance, and customer satisfaction. This contract role supports an expanding plant and may transition to permanent employment.

You will drive root cause analysis, APQP/PPAP processes, and collaborative improvements with engineering, production, and supply chain teams while ensuring IATF compliance

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a quality engineer.
• Prior automotive industry experience.
• Thorough knowledge and hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and corrective action processes.
• Strong root cause analysis and corrective action capability, including 5 Why, fishbone (Ishikawa), 8D, and effective containment methods.
• Proficiency in quality engineering principles and quality control methods.
• Experience with product and process audits and verification of corrective actions.
• Ability to interpret and apply customer-specific quality requirements and documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decisions.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for interaction with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Ability to work in an automotive manufacturing environment and support quality activities across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

• Monitor internal, customer, and supplier quality performance to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead or support corrective and preventive actions using effective root cause analysis, containment, verification, and closure methods.
• Support customer requirements and quality objectives, including scorecards, customer portals, capacity analysis inputs, logistics quality information, and customer-specific quality documentation.
• Initiate actions to prevent nonconformities related to product, process, and quality systems, and identify, record, and appropriately elevate quality issues.
• Verify the implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions and process improvements.
• Assist with monitoring supplier quality performance and managing supplier corrective actions, supplier audits, and supplier-related issue resolution.
• Support incoming inspection activities and troubleshoot material issues related to form, fit, function, documentation, or customer requirements.
• Respond effectively to supplier inquiries, quality concerns, and complaints while protecting customer and site requirements.
• Perform or support product and process audits to confirm compliance with PPAP, control plans, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Support MRB activities, including containment, sorting, disposition, rework verification, and nonconforming material processes.
• Ensure alignment with IATF expectations and internal quality system standards across production and supplier processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in engineering, production, and supply chain to drive continuous improvement in quality performance.

Skills

Quality engineering

Root cause analysis

APQP/PPAP

FMEA & Control Plans

MSA & SPC

8D problem solving

Analytical thinking

Documentation & compliance

Cross-functional teamwork

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Actalent’s Elkhart, IN site is seeking a Quality Engineer to apply established quality engineering principles and problem-solving methods to improve product quality, process capability, supplier performance, and customer satisfaction. This contract role supports an expanding plant and may transition to permanent employment.

You will drive root cause analysis, APQP/PPAP processes, and collaborative improvements with engineering, production, and supply chain teams while ensuring IATF compliance