Engineer of Quality

The HEICO Companies, LLC; Hampshire Township (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Wakefield Thermal, part of The HEICO Companies, LLC, seeks a Quality Engineer to coordinate quality across the facility, conduct audits, and drive continuous improvement. The role emphasizes ISO 9001 compliance, PPAP/FAI, and root cause analysis.

Responsibilities include interfacing with customers and suppliers, reviewing MRB issues, and leading corrective actions to improve product quality and process efficiency. A strong quality background and hands-on problem solving are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 2-4 years of experience OR 6-8 years of experience in lieu of degree.
• 2-4 years of experience within manufacturing with focus on fabrication (CNC, Assembly, etc).
• Capacity to create/maintain within an established Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001).
• Complete/Review First Article Reports (AS9102) & PPAP (16949).
• Ability to coherently explain/train blueprint drawing requirements and GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Strive towards a culture of proactive safety.
• Assist Quality Manager in establishing, implementing, and maintaining ISO 9001 requirements.
• Develop awareness on Quality Alerts and compliance trainings.
• Conduct audits, close out findings, and determine corrective and preventive actions.
• Review First Article Inspections for conformance and documentation.

Skills

Quality management

Root cause analysis

Audits

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation control

Process improvement

Inspection methods

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree

AS9102/FAI knowledge

Tools

ERP systems (Microsoft AX/Dynamics)

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Gage R&R / Minitab

GD&T interpretation

Job description

The Quality Engineer is responsible for coordinating the quality functions throughout the facility including inspection of purchased and manufactured parts or assemblies, pursuing root cause of defects, implementing and tracking corrective actions and continuous improvements, quality management system maintenance and improvement, internal/external audits, and interfacing with customers/suppliers. Note: This job description provides an outline of the essential functions and qualifications necessary for this position. It is not all-inclusive, and duties may change, be added, or deleted according to business needs. Wakefield Thermal is part of the Heico Companies, and in aggregate, Heico's businesses generate more than $3.2 billion in revenues. Wakefield Thermal is a global leader in innovative thermal management solutions for a diverse range of markets. Building on over four decades of leadership and experience, Wakefield Thermal designs, manufactures, and sells thermal management products that remove excess heat generated by electronic components. Our Mission: Our businesses have made an all-encompassing commitment across all levels of the organization to never sacrifice safety. Deliver industry leading quality, and on-time delivery while providing an exceptional customer experience. Position yourself as a leader in the industry through technological advancements and supply chain excellence. Promote a culture of success and excellence through accountability, collaboration, engagement, and shared belief in our vision. Note: This job description provides an outline of the essential functions and qualifications necessary for this position. It is not all-inclusive, and duties may change, be added or deleted according to business need.

Summary

The Quality Engineer is responsible for coordinating the quality functions throughout the facility including inspection of purchased and manufactured parts or assemblies, pursuing root cause of defects, implementing and tracking corrective actions and continuous improvements, quality management system maintenance and improvement, internal/external audits, and interfacing with customers/suppliers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strive towards a culture of proactive safety.
• Assist Quality Manager in establishing, implementing, and maintaining ISO 9001 requirements
• Develop awareness on Quality Alerts, critical topics, and facilitate required compliance trainings
• Conduct audits, including closing out audit findings, creating audit findings reports and determining proper corrective and preventive actions
• Reviews First Article Inspections as submitted to ensure all requirements are established & conforming
• Develop, review, and maintain documents related to PPAP/APQP required by our customers
• Interface with Engineering with new product development are in accordance with technical flowdown
• Conduct & lead the Material Review Board (MRB) by reviewing submitted nonconformance material with a cross functional team to determine root cause & disposition
• Effectively communicate and setup internal meetings to support resolution with nonconforming material issues and coordinate necessary corrective actions so that all interested parties are aware of the output
• Support QC to ensure that products and processes comply with the customer & internal requirements
• Support QC with output from Roaming Inspection - actions from this activity should drive continuous improvement and ensure defects are identified/mitigated
• Continuously improving QC related activity with inspection processes and procedures
• Responsible for planning, organizing and managing activities of receiving/outgoing quality functions
• Resolution of supplier nonconformities and root cause corrective actions, and preventive actions
• Supplier management with onsite visits, monthly performance, and conduct of periodic audits
• Review shipping paperwork prior to release for fulfilment to all customer flowdowns
• Interface directly with customers regarding quality concerns, corrective actions, and QMS requirements
• Prepare monthly reports by analyzing metrics, identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Assist with QC Inspections as needed
• Other duties as assigned by Quality Manager, Plant Manager & other senior leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and 2-4 years of experience OR 6-8 years of experience in lieu of degree
• 2 - 4 years of experience within manufacturing with focus on fabrication (CNC, Assembly, etc)
• Capacity to create/maintain within an established Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001)
• Complete/Review First Article Reports (AS9102) & PPAP (16949)
• Ability to coherently explain/train blueprint drawing requirements and GD&T
• Proficient with variety of inspection methods, tools, and equipment (Optical Comparator, digital height gages, CMM, calipers, etc.).
• Working knowledge of ERP systems
• Proficient in MS Office Products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Experience leading root cause and corrective action investigations (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, etc.)
• Ability to analyze supplier defect / performance data and display it visually
• Experience with metric trending and reporting out objective based recommendations
• Responsible for continual improvement activities to enhance the quality system, such as 5S, Kaizen, and other Lean Manufacturing methods
• Ability to analyze component, product, and manufacturing processes to improve product quality and process efficiency.
• Must be a self-starting problem solver utilizing their analytical skills to find innovative solutions to quality-related issues
• Communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and suppliers
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to drive actions to completion with minimal supervision
• Proven ability to coordinate a team to drive action
• Excellent planning, organizational, and attention to detail skills

Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ Certification (CQE, CQA, or equivalent)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification
• Internal Auditor Certification
• Experience with:
  • ISO 9001
  • FAI (AS9102)
  • PPAP/APQP (IATF 16949 / AS9145)
  • SPC, Gage R&R, Minitab
  • GD&T and blueprint interpretation
  • ERP systems (Microsoft AX/Dynamics)
  • KPI development and reporting
  • Smartsheet

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the work shift.
• Ability to frequently use hands and fingers to operate machine controls, tools, and measuring instruments.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and components weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach as required to load, unload, and inspect parts and equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions involving the hands, wrists, and arms.
• Ability to visually inspect parts, read blueprints, technical drawings, work instructions, gauges, and measuring devices.
• Ability to distinguish colors, dimensions, and surface defects when performing quality inspections.
• Ability to hear and communicate effectively in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to safely operate equipment in a fast-paced production setting while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, safety shoes, and other equipment as required.
• Ability to work in an environment with exposure to machine noise, metal chips, cutting fluids, lubricants, and varying temperatures.
• Ability to maintain regular attendance and work scheduled shifts, including overtime as required.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to moving mechanical equipment.
• Frequent interaction with machine tools, raw materials, and finished products.
• Compliance with all company safety policies, housekeeping requirements, and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention practices.
• Required use of appropriate PPE and adherence to all safety procedures.

Essential Functions Disclaimer

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.