Customer Quality Engineer

SKF Group; Plymouth (MI); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 PTO days

13 paid holidays

Healthcare options

401K with company match

STVS bonus

Job summary

SKF Automotive in Plymouth, MI is seeking a Customer Quality Engineer – Sales NA to strengthen the North American customer experience by ensuring quality processes, audits, and issue resolution across functional teams.

You will lead complaint handling, PPAP support, and IATF 16949 activities, while coaching teams in quality tools and continuous improvement, travel about 10%, and collaborate across Sales, Service, Engineering and Manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field with 5+ years of quality experience.
• Experience supporting quality across value chain including customers, manufacturing, warehouses, Sales, Service, and Engineering.
• Strong knowledge of IATF 16949, documentation practices, and audit support.
• Experience using quality tools such as 8D, A3, 5 Why, fishbone, FMEA, and risk-based decision making.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and continuous improvement methods.

Responsibilities

• Serve as key customer quality contact for issues, concerns, and requests.
• Monitor scorecards and trends to identify risks and improvement actions.
• Manage customer complaints from intake to containment and verification.
• Collaborate with customers, factories, warehouses, Sales, Service, Engineering to resolve concerns.
• Apply quality tools and problem‑solving methods.
• Support PPAP activities and customer-specific requirements.
• Assist with IATF 16949 audits and corrective actions.
• Maintain and improve Sales process quality documentation and standards.
• Monitor cost of non‑quality and drive improvements.
• Train teams on quality systems and continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality systems

IATF 16949

Root cause analysis

8D & 5 Why

Cross‑functional communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Quality Management

Tools

QMS software

Microsoft 365

Job description

By creating bearings and solutions for everything from industrial applications to vehicles, SKF plays an essential role in our everyday lives. In Q4 2026, SKF intends to spin off its Automotive business and list it as a separate company under the name of SKF Vertevo. A company created to support the future of the automotive market, and to co-drive the future of mobility faster.

This role will be a part of that new company. Would you like to join us, and move people further?

Customer Quality Engineer – Sales NA

SKF Automotive Business

Location: Plymouth, MI (hybrid)

The Customer Quality Engineer plays a key role in strengthening the customer experience across North America by ensuring quality processes, customer concerns, and audit requirements are managed with speed, consistency, and care. This role partners closely with Sales, Customer Service, Application Engineering, and manufacturing teams to resolve issues, reduce risk, and drive continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities (or What you can expect in the role)

In this position, you will serve as a key customer quality contact, supporting complaint resolution, quality standards, IATF audit readiness, and process improvements that directly impact customer satisfaction. This role requires a proactive, collaborative approach to identifying quality risks, improving ways of working, and helping teams deliver reliable solutions for customers.

• Serve as a key customer quality contact, providing timely support for customer issues, concerns, and quality‑related requests.
• Monitor customer scorecards and performance trends, identifying risks, gaps, and improvement actions to strengthen customer satisfaction.
• Manage customer complaints from intake through containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, verification, and closure.
• Partner with customers, factories, warehouses, Sales, Customer Service, Application Engineering, and other cross‑functional teams to resolve quality concerns and improve processes.
• Apply quality tools and problem‑solving methods, including 8D, 5 Why, fishbone analysis, FMEA, and risk‑based decision making.
• Support PPAP activities, customer‑specific requirements, and quality documentation to ensure alignment with internal and external expectations.
• Support internal and external IATF 16949 audits, ensuring corrective actions are completed and sustained where needed.
• Maintain and improve Sales process quality documentation, procedures, and standards to support consistent ways of working.
• Monitor cost of non‑quality and lead improvement actions that reduce recurrence, improve efficiency, and support customer confidence.
• Train and coach teams on quality systems, core tools, customer requirements, and continuous improvement practices.

Requirements (or We expect you to have/be)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field with 5+ years of quality experience required; degree requirement may be waived for candidates with successful, relevant work experience in quality.
• Experience supporting quality across the full value chain, including customers, manufacturing, factories, warehouses, Sales, Customer Service, Engineering, and Warranty.
• Strong working knowledge of quality systems, IATF 16949 requirements, documentation practices, and internal or external audit support.
• Experience using quality and problem‑solving tools such as 8D, A3, 5 Why, fishbone analysis, FMEA, and risk‑based decision making.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, assembly, machining, quality assurance practices, and continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers and employees at all levels of the organization, including in cross‑functional and multicultural environments.
• Self‑motivated, action‑oriented, and accountable, with the ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
• Proficient with Microsoft 365 tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related applications.
• Ability to move throughout the facility and travel as needed, approximately 10%.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, Lean experience, and Spanish or Portuguese language skills are preferred.

You will enjoy working here if you (are/have)

a hands‑on quality professional who likes solving problems, supporting customers, and working across teams to drive practical improvements. You are comfortable balancing customer expectations, business needs, and risk‑based decisions while keeping follow‑through and accountability at the center of your work. You bring a collaborative mindset, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence others by using facts, data, and sound quality practices. You thrive in environments where every day brings an opportunity to improve processes, strengthen customer confidence, and help teams work more effectively.

If you want to go further

this position will be located in Plymouth, MI at our North American HQ and Technical Center. You will report to the Director of Customer Quality and Warranty, Americas who also sits in Plymouth, MI. For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Dayna Azzopardi, Manager of Talent Acquisition, Mobility and Internal Communications, Americas via email [e-mail]. We will screen candidates continuously, so make sure to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note that we do not accept applications via email.

We will screen candidates continuously, so make sure to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you want to know more about SKF Automotive business, please visit our webpage .

Transparency and fairness matter to us at SKF Automotive

we see diversity in our workforce as an asset that supports better business results. We are committed to having a fair and inclusive recruitment process where all hiring decisions are based on objective, job‑related criteria, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates. To support a fair and transparent recruitment process, selected candidates may be asked to complete assessments. Prior to employment, we may also conduct background checks and verify information provided during the application process, in accordance with applicable laws.

The salary range for this position starts at $93,000 USD annually. We also offer a competitive benefits package that includes a retirement savings plan, annual company bonus, and additional benefits. During the initial interview, we will discuss your salary expectations and provide more details about our total rewards package.

Our final offer is based on an objective evaluation of your experience, skills, and potential, aligned with the scope of the role and our internal compensation guidelines. Recruitment processes may vary by location and will always comply with applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations.

Come as you are – just be yourself. #weareSKF

Why You Will Love Working Here

Rest and Relaxation

Enjoy a generous 24 PTO day policy and 13 paid holidays.

Best in Class Benefits

SKF Automotive cares about the wellbeing of our employees. Comprehensive healthcare options to fit your needs and opt out payment. Added benefits include company paid life insurance, STD, LTD. Supplemental benefits include critical illness coverage, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs, and much more!

Bonus

SKF Automotive offers STVS (Short Term Variable Salary) or Sales Incentive based on company performance and at the discretion of management.

Invest in your Future

Participate in our 401K program that boasts a 10% employer contribution: 100% match up to 5% of your elected contribution (100% Vested) plus an additional 5% company contribution.