Quality & Continuous Improvement Engineer

Garlock Family of Companies; Town of Palmyra (NY); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Garlock is seeking a Quality & Continuous Improvement Engineer to drive product and process quality while leading Lean and Six Sigma initiatives across the organization. You will reduce defects, boost efficiency, and support customer satisfaction through data‑driven methods on both office and production floors.

The role collaborates with operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams, and involves standardization, CAPA, and process control activities to sustain gains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related field) is required.
• 3–7+ years of experience in quality or continuous improvement roles.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and Quality methodologies.
• Experience with SPC, FMEA, Control Plans, and root cause analysis tools.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management: Ensure products and processes meet internal and external quality standards.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality systems and procedures.
• Monitor key quality metrics (FPY, scrap, rework, PPM, COPQ).
• Support internal and external audits (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS 9100, etc.).
• Continuous Improvement: Lead Lean and Six Sigma projects to improve quality, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and process optimization efforts.
• Identify improvement opportunities using data analysis and performance metrics.
• Drive standardization and best practice deployment across operations.
• Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving: Lead investigations using 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams.
• Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Track improvement effectiveness and sustain gains.
• Process Improvement & Control: Develop and optimize process controls including SPC, control plans, and Cp/Cpk.
• Implement error‑proofing (poka‑yoke) solutions to prevent defects.
• Support process validation and continuous monitoring.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: Partner with operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) with quality planning and risk mitigation.
• Train and mentor teams on continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze production and quality data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and reports for leadership.
• Use statistical tools to support decision‑making.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Quality methodologies

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial/Mechanical/Manufacturing)

Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification

Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or equivalent

Tools

SPC

FMEA

Control Plans

Root cause analysis tools

Job description

Make Quality Your Legacy at Garlock

Do you see a better way to do things everywhere you look? Do you get a thrill from turning a good process into a great one? At Garlock, we're looking for a curious, hands‑on problem solver who wants their work to be seen, felt, and valued every day.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• Real impact, real results. Your ideas won't sit in a binder. You'll see them come to life on the floor and in the products our customers rely on.
• A seat at every table. You'll work side by side with operations, engineering, and supply chain, and you'll be trusted to bring fresh thinking to each of them.
• Room to lead. Spark change, coach teammates, and help shape a culture where everyone is empowered to make things better.
• Variety that keeps you energized. Split your time between the office and the production floor, with no two days exactly alike.
• A place to grow. Build your expertise, sharpen your influence, and take your career further with a respected industrial leader.

You’ll Thrive Here If You…

• Can't walk past a problem without wanting to solve it
• Let the data tell the story, then bring people along with you
• Are as comfortable on the shop floor as you are at a laptop
• Believe "good enough" is just the starting line
• Enjoy teaching others and celebrating team wins

Why Garlock?

Garlock, part of Enpro, is built on engineering excellence, pride in craftsmanship, and a team that takes care of one another. Here, quality isn't a department. It's how we work, and it's how we earn our customers' trust every day.

Your Role in Our Values:

• Safety: Champion a culture of safety by embracing the Garlock Safety Pledge in everything you do. Look for ways to improve safety in your work, your team, and the broader organization, because safety starts with each of us.
• Excellence: Bring your full self to work. Focus on creating value, driving innovation, and continuously improving how we work.
• Respect: Create space for every voice to be heard. Foster a workplace built on mutual respect, where people feel valued and empowered to contribute to both personal and organizational success.

Full Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Quality & Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for driving products and process quality while leading continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This role focuses on reducing defects, improving efficiency, enhancing customer satisfaction, and supporting a culture of operational excellence using Lean, Six Sigma, and data‑driven methodologies.

Core Responsibilities

Quality Management:

• Ensure products and processes meet internal and external quality standards
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality systems and procedures
• Monitor key quality metrics (FPY, scrap, rework, PPM, COPQ)
• Support internal and external audits (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS 9100, etc.)

Continuous Improvement Activities

• Lead Lean and Six Sigma projects to improve quality, reduce waste, and increase efficiency
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and process optimization effortsIdentify improvement opportunities using data analysis and performance metrics
• Drive standardization and best practice deployment across operations

Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving

• Lead investigations into quality issues using tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams
• Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
• Track improvement effectiveness and sustain gains

Process Improvement & Control

• Develop and optimize process controls including SPC, control plans, and process capability analysis (Cp/Cpk)
• Implement error‑proofing (poka‑yoke) solutions to prevent defects
• Support process validation and continuous monitoring

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams to drive improvements
• Support new product introduction (NPI) with quality planning and risk mitigation
• Train and mentor teams on continuous improvement tools and methodologies

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Analyze production and quality data to identify trends and opportunities
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and reports for leadership
• Use statistical tools to support decision‑making

Key activities

• Continuous Improvement & Lean Thinking
• Data Analysis & Statistical Methods
• Project Management
• Communication & Change Management
• Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving
• Process Optimization

Required

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related field)
• 3–7+ years of experience in quality or continuous improvement roles
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and Quality methodologies
• Experience with SPC, FMEA, Control Plans, and root cause analysis tools
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills

Preferred

• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or equivalent
• Experience in manufacturing, operations, or production environments
• Knowledge of ERP and quality management systems

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Combination of office and production floor environment
• Frequent cross-functional collaboration
• Occasional travel may be required

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Office and Manufacturing Floor Position: Ability to perform sedentary work, spending extended periods of time working with a computer. Physical effort may include stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Clarity of vision to see near and mid‑range. Ability to lift and carry up to 35 lbs.

Garlock is a subsidiary of Enpro, a leading industrial technology company focused on critical applications across many end‑markets, including semiconductor, industrial process, commercial vehicle, sustainable power generation, aerospace, food and pharma, photonics and life sciences.

At Enpro, we believe that diversity drives innovation and inclusion fosters growth. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Our employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military service, or any other status protected by applicable law. If you require accommodation due to a disability at any time during the recruitment and/or assessment process, please contact Human Resources, and we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.

Enpro Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. We will not sponsor employment visas now or in the future for this job.

Enpro carefully considers a wide range of compensation factors including the background, education, training, and experience required, as well as geographic considerations such as cost of labor, and applicable local and state laws. These considerations can cause offered compensation to vary. The hiring range for this position is typically $81,000- $115,000 per year. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Bonus,gainshare, and/or equity may be eligible for this position. Enpro offers a range of benefits including, but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k) matching, and other supplemental insurance options.

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