Quality Engineer

Pinnacle Partners, Inc; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Health Savings Account

Educational assistance and tuition-rem

Job summary

Pinnacle Partners, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Quality Engineer in Lafayette, IN to support customer and internal quality issues, manufacturing processes, supplier quality, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate has strong manufacturing quality experience, preferably automotive/IATF, and hands-on use of AIAG Core Tools (APQP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, PPAP). This role collaborates across Operations, Engineering, and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or technical field preferred.
• 5+ years of manufacturing quality experience in a production environment.
• Automotive/IATF quality experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support customer and internal quality issues with products and processes.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, suppliers, and customers to resolve quality concerns.
• Lead root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Utilize APQP, FMEA/DFMEA, PPAP, Control Plans, MSA, SPC to drive quality.
• Perform on-floor validation, data collection, and statistical analysis (Minitab or equivalent).
• Support PPAP and APQP activities and related documentation.

Job description

Pinnacle Partners is recruiting for a Quality Engineer in Lafayette, IN. This is a hands-on quality engineering position supporting customer and internal quality issues, manufacturing processes, supplier quality, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have strong manufacturing quality experience, preferably within an automotive/IATF environment, along with hands-on experience using AIAG Quality Core Tools including APQP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and PPAP. This position will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, suppliers, and customers to identify root causes, reduce defects, improve processes, and maintain effective quality systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support customer and internal quality issues related to products, manufacturing processes, and defects.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, suppliers, and customers to resolve quality concerns.
• Serve as a technical resource for quality-related issues and manufacturing process improvements.
• Investigate quality issues and identify root causes using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Utilize 8D, 5 Why, FMEA, DFMEA, APQP, SPC, and other quality tools to identify and resolve problems.
• Support customer quality concerns and communicate professionally and pragmatically with customers throughout the resolution process.
• Assist with supplier quality issues and supplier audits.
• Support PPAP activities and related technical documentation.
• Assist with APQP activities throughout product and process development.
• Utilize FMEA methodology and Control Plans to evaluate product and process risks.
• Support Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) activities.
• Perform statistical analysis to identify trends, process variation, and opportunities for improvement.
• Utilize Minitab or equivalent statistical software for SPC, DOE, and other quality analyses.
• Support quality audits, including IATF-related activities.
• Assist with maintaining effective quality systems and processes.
• Review, maintain, and improve the document control system to ensure documentation remains current and accurate.
• Validate procedures and ensure manufacturing processes are being followed appropriately.
• Review manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to reduce defects and improve quality.
• Support quality metrics and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze quality data to identify recurring issues and process trends.
• Work with cross-functional teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Assist with technical documentation related to quality systems, processes, and customer requirements.
• Spend time on the manufacturing floor observing processes, learning equipment, validating procedures, and identifying quality opportunities.
• Balance customer-facing quality responsibilities with documentation, analysis, process validation, and continuous improvement activities.
• Support multiple quality initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Travel occasionally for customer or supplier-related quality activities, approximately 5% or as needed.
• Maintain a flexible and hands-on approach as production requirements and quality priorities change.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering role within a manufacturing environment.
• Automotive manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting IATF audits and automotive quality requirements.
• Experience with PPAPs and related technical documentation.
• Hands-on experience with AIAG Quality Core Tools, including:
• APQP
• FMEA/DFMEA
• Control Plans
• Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• PPAP
• Experience using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D and 5 Why.
• Strong root cause analysis and corrective action experience.
• Experience working with or supporting supplier audits and supplier quality issues.
• Experience working within a Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ability to maintain accurate and organized quality documentation.
• Experience with statistical analysis and process improvement.
• Proficiency with Minitab or equivalent software for SPC, DOE, and statistical analysis.
• Ability to interpret quality data and use statistical methods to identify process issues.
• Ability to work directly with customers regarding quality concerns and corrective actions.
• Strong professional communication skills and the ability to communicate technical information clearly.
• Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing and quality issues in a hands-on environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, Quality, suppliers, and customers.
• Ability to adapt to changing production priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday during core hours generally ranging from 7:00 AM–4:00/5:00 PM, with some flexibility as needed.
• Ability to occasionally travel for customer or supplier support, approximately 5%.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Automotive manufacturing experience.
• Experience working within an IATF 16949 environment.
• Experience with automotive customer quality requirements.
• Strong experience with PPAP, APQP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC.
• Experience supporting or participating in IATF audits.
• Experience with supplier quality and supplier audits.
• Experience with Minitab or similar statistical analysis software.
• Experience with DOE and advanced statistical analysis.
• Experience with continuous improvement and defect reduction initiatives.
• Experience working with complex manufacturing processes and custom production equipment.
• Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience working directly with automotive customers on quality issues.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment where flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities are important.

Benefits Overview:

• Competitive base salary up to $90,000.
• Discretionary companywide performance bonus ranging from 0–5% of prior year's base salary based on achievement of company KPIs.
• Companywide bonus metrics include Safety, On-Time Performance, Quality, OEE, and Total Retention.
• Medical insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Health Savings Account.
• Educational assistance and tuition reimbursement.