Quality Engineer

Valmont Industries; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (medical, prescription, etc

401k retirement plan with companymatch

Paid time off

Employer-paid life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

Valmont Industries seeks a Quality Engineer (QE) to develop, manage, and support quality engineering efforts within QA and QC. The QE will collaborate with design engineering, operations, and customers to drive continuous improvements and achieve quality metrics.

Essential functions include risk mitigation, problem solving, and leading quality initiatives across products and processes. This role requires travel, strong statistical skills, and cross-functional teamwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 3+ years of relevant experience or associate’s with 5+ years (or 9+ years) in QA/QC.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification required.
• Strong understanding of statistics and sampling plans (SPC, capability analysis).
• Proficiency with Six Sigma tools including PFMEA, RC analysis, MSA, CP.
• Ability to read engineering prints and specifications and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in formal problem-solving events.
• Drive quality improvement using PFMEA, process maps, control plans, and SPC.
• Interface with customers and internal teams to resolve quality issues.
• Establish and monitor quality metrics with QA and operations.
• Travel up to 50% to field locations and job sites as needed.
• Develop and communicate best practices for quality and supplier evaluation.

Skills

Six Sigma Green Belt

Statistical analysis

Root cause analysis

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality assurance / quality control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial or mechanical engineering

Tools

Minitab

Job description

28800 Ida St Valley Nebraska 68064-8016

Why Valmont

We’re Here to Move the World Forward. Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward?

A Brief Summary of This Position

Quality Engineer (QE) is responsible for developing, managing and/or supporting quality engineering-related efforts within the Quality Assurance (QA) and/or Quality Control (QC) organizations. The area of focus encompasses all QA/QC functions, including process development and documentation, root cause analysis and corrective action, implementing alternatives to existing methods, and project management. Additionally, this Individual Contributor will work directly with multiple departments, and interact with managers, supervisors, and other individual contributors, such as design engineering, operations, and customers, to drive continuous improvements as they relate to quality and the overall operations performance, which includes establishing and achieving quality metrics. At times, this position may be called upon to assist with supplier evaluation.

Essential Functions

• Based on the location of the position, this position could require up to 50% travel
• Identifies and eliminates and/or mitigates risks as they pertain to achieving codes, engineering specifications, and customer specifications. This includes ensuring proper processes and procedures are documented, implemented, and executed.
• Serves as a quality liaison between QA, supply chain, operations, and design engineering when quality problems exist that affect product quality
• Interprets Valmont quality requirements, including but not limited to, quality management system (QMS) documents, specifications, engineering prints, and external standards (e.g., AISC, ASTM, AWS)
• Leads and participates in formal problem-solving events. This includes leading team members who do not report to the QE position.
• Drives quality improvement processes using the appropriate tools (PFMEAs, process flow charts, control plans, capability studies, part layouts, MSA/Gage R&R, SPC, etc.) as required
• Utilizes LEAN principles to minimize waste as it pertains to QC activities
• May be called upon to define quality processes for new product introduction
• Lead quality teams through process improvement events
• Develop, communicate, and implement best practices as they pertain to quality
• Interface with customers as needed to eliminate any nonconformance. This may, at times, include job-site visits.
• Work directly with QA and Operations management to establish quality metrics and ensure the metrics are achieved
• Seeking cost savings opportunities related to quality improvements
• Prepare and report quality activity updates for management to keep them apprised of quality initiatives and concerns
• Participating in customer specification reviews
• Conducts business on behalf of the Company in full compliance with the laws of the many jurisdictions in which we operate
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to occasionally lift 50 pounds, although the most frequent lift is up to 20 pounds
• Ability to perform manual labor while in the field, wear all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and work in an environment where there is exposure to various weather elements

Required Qualifications of Every Candidate

• Bachelor’s with 3+ years of relevant experience or an associate’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience or 9+ years of relevant experience
• Experience working in quality assurance or quality control
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification
• In-depth understanding and practical application of statistics as they relate to quality, such as sampling plans, data analysis, SPC, process capability analysis, etc.
• Proficient with Six Sigma tools such as pFMEA, CP, root cause analysis, MSA, etc.
• Ability to utilize Minitab or equivalent statistical analysis software.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering prints and specifications
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to lead projects involving cross-functional team members, including mid-level managers
• Ability to work with people at all levels throughout the organization, as well as certifying body auditors
• Ability to work directly with customers as needed to support quality efforts
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, as well as organizational and follow-up skills
• Proven ability to create and deliver effective group presentations and training
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work autonomously
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to perform manual labor while in the field, including lifting 50 pounds and working in an environment where there is exposure to weather elements

Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial or mechanical engineering with 5+ years of relevant experience in a metals manufacturing environment, which includes structural welding
• Five years of experience working with QA or QC
• Experience in metals fabrication, including structural welding
• Relevant manufacturing experience as it pertains to transmission, distribution, traffic, lighting, communication, and substation products
• Knowledge and experience working with DOT certification requirements by state jurisdiction
• Experience dealing with customers and auditing agencies
• Detailed understanding of AISC, ISO, and DOT requirements
• 6-Sigma Green, Black, or Master Black Belt
• Experienced in Minitab
• NDT experience - particularly VT, MT, and UT

Working Environment and Physical Efforts

The QE will work both in the office and on the factory floor. At times, the QE may visit field installations to review quality issues, including visits to customers’ offices. Work is typically performed in an office setting. The incumbent is regularly required to sit for extended periods, as well as talk and listen on the phone and in personal conversations or meetings. The environment is fast-paced and demanding most of the time. Travel can be significant at times, as much as 50-75% including overnight stays in domestic and international locations. The employee is frequently required to use their hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms while working in the office with various files and forms, as well as while working on the computer. The employee is occasionally required to move about the office. Incumbent must utilize proper ergonomic safeguards such as monitor height and positions, keyboard location and height, and proper wrist rests. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds while working with large files, binders, and computer equipment. On rare occasions, one must be able to lift 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Ability to perform manual labor while in the field, wear all necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and work in an environment where there is exposure to various weather elements.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
• Work Life Support
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Valmont is here to modernize vital infrastructure and increase agricultural productivity, sustainably and reliably. We galvanize steel to last a century with minimal environmental impact. We modernize irrigation to feed a growing population by utilizing the latest technology. We harden the electrical grid to enable the delivery of reliable power to millions of homes around the world. And we help make communities everywhere safer, cleaner and more connected through our smart infrastructure technology. Valmont serves two primary markets — agriculture and infrastructure — and seven diverse product lines: Utility, Lighting and Transportation, Telecom, Solar, Coatings, Irrigation and Ag Tech. We manufacture products in 85 facilities spread across six continents, and we do business in 100 different countries. That’s what Valmont does. We conserve resources and improve life, finding ways to make innovation and technology beneficial in the real world. + That’s the value we add.