Lead Quality Engineer

Socket.dev; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401(k) retirement plan

Health, dental, & vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Socket.dev in Louisville, KY is seeking a Lead Quality Engineer to guide the company's quality systems, drive Lean manufacturing initiatives, and ensure products meet internal standards and customer requirements.

You will mentor quality technicians, coordinate audits, and collaborate across production, engineering, sourcing and leadership to build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years in a manufacturing quality engineering role.
• Engineering degree preferred but not required; equivalent work experience considered.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement systems.
• Experience leading quality initiatives in a production environment.
• Experience supervising quality technicians or junior engineers.
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and manufacturing quality processes.
• Experience with process capability studies and statistical analysis.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and specifications.
• Proficient with precision measurement tools including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other inspection tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication across all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Experience working with manufacturing data, quality metrics, and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain inspection methods, testing procedures, and process controls to ensure consistent product quality.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and applicable industry quality standards.
• Guide and mentor a team of quality technicians to help them become true partners to the broader manufacturing organization.
• Lead preparation for and execution of third-party quality audits and certifications.
• Maintain documentation, procedures, and quality records that support effective quality management and traceability.
• Drive Lean quality initiatives aimed at reducing defects, improving process capability, and increasing operational efficiency.
• Utilize Lean tools such as root cause analysis (RCA), statistical process control (SPC), and value stream mapping (VSM) to resolve complex quality issues.

Skills

Quality engineering

Lean manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Statistical analysis

Documentation & traceability

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Engineering degree preferred

Tools

Precision measurement tools

MS Office

Job description

Description

We build products and relationships that last a lifetime! No really, that's what we do. We are a successful family business with a long-term record of steady growth, and we are determined to accelerate our trajectory. Our diverse team members who speak 22 languages are passionate about their company and their co-workers.

Check out our website at www.strong-hold.com.

We Are Not:

• Fancy – as manufacturers we believe practical, clean facilities are required to make quality products and retain the best team.
• Transactional – we have long-term relationships with our team members and most valuable customers.
• Satisfied – we celebrate achievement, then set our sights on new goals.

What We’re Looking For:

The Lead Quality Engineer is responsible for guiding and continuously improving the company’s quality systems to ensure our products consistently meet internal standards, customer expectations, and industry requirements. This role combines engineering expertise, Lean manufacturing principles, and data-driven problem solving to improve product quality, increase process capability, and eliminate waste across the organization. This position serves as a technical leader for the company’s quality management system and works cross-functionally with production, engineering, sourcing, and leadership teams to drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and maintain inspection methods, testing procedures, and process controls to ensure consistent product quality.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and applicable industry quality standards.
• Guide and mentor a team of quality technicians to help them become true partners to the broader manufacturing organization.
• Lead preparation for and execution of third-party quality audits and certifications.
• Maintain documentation, procedures, and quality records that support effective quality management and traceability.
• Drive Lean quality initiatives aimed at reducing defects, improving process capability, and increasing operational efficiency.
• Utilize Lean tools such as root cause analysis (RCA), statistical process control (SPC), and value stream mapping (VSM) to resolve complex quality issues.

Requirements

• 2-3 years of experience in a similar quality engineering role within a manufacturing environment.
• An engineering degree is preferred but not required. Equivalent work experience will be considered.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement systems.
• Experience leading quality initiatives in a production environment
• Experience managing quality technicians or junior engineers as direct reports preferred
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and manufacturing quality processes.
• Experience conducting process capability studies and statistical analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, assembly prints, and technical specifications.
• Strong working knowledge of precision measurement equipment including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other inspection tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Experience working with manufacturing data, quality metrics, and reporting tools.

Benefits:

We value our team members and believe in providing competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Competitive wage with annual increases and a performance-based annual bonus.
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Health, dental, & vision, insurance coverage
• Company paid life, short- & long-term disability insurance coverage
• Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and personal days