Customer Quality Engineer

SCN - Search Consulting Network; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SCN - Search Consulting Network is assisting a leading Tier 1 automotive supplier in Novi, MI, seeking a Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) to own quality deliverables from early product development through PPAP and launch for the Tesla account.

You will lead APQP activities, coordinate with program management, manufacturing, and suppliers, and ensure customer requirements are met with robust metrics and timely communication.

Qualifications

• APQP and PPAP experience required with hands-on knowledge of PFMEA, Process Flow, and Control Plans.
• Strong GD&T, gaging, dimensional layouts, and MSA/ SPC proficiency.
• Automotive customer-facing quality experience, especially with Tesla, is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary quality interface between Tesla, the program team, manufacturing plants, and suppliers.
• Own quality activities from new product development through APQP, PPAP, and production launch.
• Lead APQP deliverables such as PFMEA, Process Flow, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC.

Skills

APQP

PFMEA

Process Flow

Control Plans

MSA

SPC

PPAP

GD&T

Gaging requirements

Dimensional layouts

Tesla experience

Customer-facing quality

Job description

Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) – Program Quality / APQP

We are partnering with a leading Tier 1 Automotive Supplier that is hiring for a Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) to support new product development and program launches for the Tesla Customer account.

Company Highlights

• Leading Tier 1 Supplier of engineered components for the automotive industry
• Focused on new product development, engineered components, and production program launches
• Collaborative environment involving Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Suppliers, Plant Quality, and leadership

Position Highlights

• Title: Customer Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Individual contributor position with significant cross-functional leadership responsibility
• High-visibility member of the program core team
• Serves as the voice of the customer for the Tesla relationship
• Owns quality activities from early product development through PPAP and production launch
• Combination of Customer Quality, Program Quality, and Supplier Quality responsibilities
• Strong automotive APQP experience with hands-on knowledge of:
• APQP
• PFMEA
• Process Flow
• Control Plans
• MSA
• SPC
• Direct ownership of PPAP packages and experience
• Automotive customer-facing quality experience – especially current Tesla experience
• Experience with customer-specific requirements and customer portals
• Supplier quality and supplier APQP experience
• Knowledge of gaging requirements, dimensional layouts, and GD&T
• Ability to influence and hold internal teams and suppliers accountable

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary quality interface between Tesla, the program team, manufacturing plants, and suppliers
• Own quality activities throughout(new product development, APQP, PPAP, and production launch
• Lead and coordinate APQP deliverables, including PFMEA, Process Flow, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC
• Prepare, coordinate, submit, and drive PPAP packages through customer approval
• Interpret and communicate customer-specific requirements throughout the organization
• Work directly with automotive OEM and Tier customers on quality requirements, launch reviews, PPAPs, customer concerns, and other quality events
• Coordinate customer quality issues from containment through root‑cause analysis, corrective action, verification, customer communication, and closure
• Support and monitor supplier APQP, supplier PPAP, Run at Rate, Safe Launch, PV testing, and supplier readiness
• Coordinate gaging, dimensional requirements, dimensional layouts, and related quality activities
• Support prototype and pre‑production quality activities
• Drive launch milestones and ensure quality deliverables are completed on schedule
• Partner with Program Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Plant Quality, suppliers, and leadership to resolve quality issues and maintain launch timing
• Represent the customer's quality expectations internally and ensure requirements are understood and executed
• Maintain strong communication and follow‑through across multiple simultaneous program priorities

What is Being Offered

• Challenge: Own the quality side of new automotive programs while balancing customer expectations, APQP timing, supplier readiness, internal milestones, and manufacturing launch requirements
• Advancement: Experience aligns with future opportunities such as Senior Customer Quality Engineer, Program Quality Manager, Advanced Quality Manager, Supplier Quality Manager, Quality Manager, Program Manager, or Customer Quality Manager
• People / Culture: Customer‑focused, collaborative, technically driven environment requiring strong communication and the ability to influence across functions
• Stability: Opportunity to work with established automotive OEM and Tier customers and gain broad exposure across the automotive product‑development and launch process
• High‑visibility position on the program core team
• Opportunity to own APQP and PPAP rather than simply support them
• Broad exposure across Customer Quality, Program Quality, Supplier Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management
• Direct involvement in new automotive program launches and critical launch milestones

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

Own the Launch: This is not a reactive plant‑quality position. You'll be involved early in the program and own quality deliverables through PPAP and launch.

Customer Visibility: You'll serve as a key quality interface with one of the most exciting OEMs and build key relationships with this important customer

Broad Quality Responsibility: The role touches the entire quality chain — Customer → Program Team → Manufacturing Plant → Suppliers