Plant Quality Lead: Automotive Quality & Improvement

Top Echelon Software, LLC.; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Echelon Software, LLC. is seeking a Plant Quality Lead to oversee all quality activities within the manufacturing facility and to lead and develop the Quality Engineering team.

You will ensure compliance with customer requirements, IATF 16949 standards, and internal objectives, while driving cross-functional continuous improvement across Operations and Engineering. The role focuses on preventing defects, resolving customer concerns, and improving overall plant quality performance through

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field.
• 5+ years of quality experience in an automotive manufacturing or supplier environment.
• Minimum 2–3 years of supervisory or direct people-management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing Quality Engineers.
• Strong knowledge of IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and automotive customer requirements.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and 8D.
• Experience managing customer quality issues, audits, and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop the plant Quality Engineering team.
• Establish team priorities, assign responsibilities, and hold team members accountable for performance and results.
• Oversee daily quality activities and ensure manufacturing processes meet customer and internal requirements.
• Maintain and improve the plant Quality Management System in accordance with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
• Lead resolution of customer complaints, corrective actions, and 8D responses.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions to prevent recurring quality issues.
• Oversee APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and MSA activities.
• Monitor quality metrics, including customer PPM, scrap, rework, and cost of poor quality.
• Lead internal, external, and customer audits.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to drive process improvements and reduce defects.
• Communicate quality performance, concerns, and improvement initiatives to plant leadership.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the facility.

Skills

Team Leadership

Quality Systems IATF16949

Root Cause Analysis

Cross-functional Collaboration

Audits & Compliance

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

APQP

PPAP

FMEA

Control Plans

SPC

MSA

8D

Job description

Top Echelon Software, LLC. is seeking a Plant Quality Lead to oversee all quality activities within the manufacturing facility and to lead and develop the Quality Engineering team.

You will ensure compliance with customer requirements, IATF 16949 standards, and internal objectives, while driving cross-functional continuous improvement across Operations and Engineering. The role focuses on preventing defects, resolving customer concerns, and improving overall plant quality performance through