Quality Engineer

Life Fitness; Owatonna (MN); On-site; USD 78,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure quality, reliability, and performance of fitness equipment on a manufacturing floor. You will lead root cause analyses, drive corrective actions, and strengthen manufacturing quality systems across Operations, Engineering, Purchasing and Suppliers.

You will support ISO 9001 compliance, develop quality training, and lead supplier quality improvements including SCARs and containment actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of quality engineering or related manufacturing quality experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading root cause analysis, corrective actions, nonconforming material investigations, and manufacturing problem-solving efforts.
• Working knowledge of SPC, Cp/Cpk, MSA, and statistical methods.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience analyzing manufacturing and quality data to identify trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective action activities (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, Pareto).
• Identify, contain, and resolve supplier, process, and reliability issues.
• Support and improve the Quality Management System, including ISO 9001 activities.
• Develop and deliver quality training to improve awareness and problem-solving.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing and suppliers on new product launches and changes (PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA).
• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives and containment activities.
• Drive NCR/MRB processes and recurrence prevention.
• Analyze customer complaints and field data to identify trends and corrective actions.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen based improvements using data-driven methods.
• Provide guidance to Quality Technicians and resolve floor issues.

Skills

Root cause analysis

Statistical methods

Excel

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

ASQ CQE / CQA / CRE certification

Tools

Calypso

PC-DMIS

Minitab

Power BI

Python

Job description

Join us as we empower the world to work out, creating healthier lives together. At Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, we're dedicated to empowering the world to work out and creating healthier lives together. As a Quality Engineer, you'll play a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of industry-leading fitness equipment that serves customers around the globe. Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, Suppliers, and Quality teams, you'll lead problem-solving initiatives, strengthen manufacturing quality systems, and drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance product performance and customer satisfaction. This is an opportunity to make a visible impact in a collaborative, fast-paced manufacturing environment while helping deliver innovative, high-performance workout solutions that customers trust.

As our Quality Engineer, you will:

• Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective action activities using tools such as 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, Pareto Analysis, and effectiveness verification.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify, contain, and resolve supplier, process, product, and reliability issues.
• Support and continuously improve the Quality Management System, including ISO 9001 compliance activities.
• Develop and deliver quality training that improves awareness, problem-solving capability, and consistent execution of quality requirements.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Purchasing, and suppliers during new product launches and production changes using PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and capability studies.
• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives, including supplier corrective actions (SCARs), containment activities, escalations, and effectiveness verification.
• Drive resolution of nonconforming material through NCR/MRB processes, rework validation, risk assessment, and recurrence prevention.
• Analyze customer complaints, warranty, and field-quality data to identify trends and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other data-driven methodologies.
• Provide technical guidance and support to Quality Technicians and other team members.
• Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor to support operators, supervisors, technicians, and engineers in resolving quality concerns.
• Own quality issues from containment through closure, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Conduct product, process, and quality system audits while driving corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Develop and improve inspection methods, measurement systems, Gauge R&R studies, and capability analyses.
• Create and maintain quality documentation including procedures, work instructions, PFMEAs, Control Plans, inspection plans, and quality records.
• Develop and communicate meaningful quality metrics and reports, including defect trends, scrap, rework, first-pass yield, PPM, NCRs, customer complaints, and supplier performance.
• Utilize statistical analysis and manufacturing data to identify opportunities for improvement and support business decisions.

What Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is looking for in our Quality Engineer:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of quality engineering or related manufacturing quality experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading root cause analysis, corrective actions, nonconforming material investigations, and manufacturing problem-solving efforts.
• Working knowledge of SPC, process capability analysis (Cp/Cpk), measurement system analysis, and statistical methods.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience analyzing manufacturing and quality data to identify trends and recommend solutions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with a proven ability to independently drive results.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and suppliers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with precision measurement equipment, engineering drawings, GD&T, and dimensional inspection.
• CMM programming and operation experience, including Calypso and/or PC-DMIS.
• Experience with Minitab or similar statistical software.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and other core quality tools.
• Manufacturing experience involving machining, fabrication, welding, powder coating, paint, assembly, or related processes.
• ASQ CQE, CQA, CRE, Six Sigma, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with Power BI, Python, computer vision, or other advanced analytics and automation technologies.

Work Environment

This position is primarily based in a manufacturing environment and may involve exposure to elevated noise levels. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required as applicable.

At Life Fitness / Hammer Strength,we think customer first,play as one team, andraise the bar on fitness innovation-in the gym and in every corner of our facilities. Wepersevere and get it done, with a clear purpose toinspire each other to live healthier lives.

The salary range for this position, intended for U.S. applicants, is $78,000 - $113,300 annually.

This position is eligible to participate in Life Fitness / Hammer Strength's annual Manager Incentive Plan to receive an annual discretionary bonus in addition to base salary. The amount of bonus varies based on company and individual performance goals and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan.

• a 401(k) savings plan with 4% employer match
• medical, dental and vision insurance, parental, medical and military leaves of absence, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year
• paid vacation days beginning at 13 days annually
• paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws
• company paid short-term disability and optional long-term disability
• health savings account
• health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts
• employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance
• hospital indemnity
• identity protection
• legal services
• adoption assistance
• tuition assistance
• commuter benefits
• employee discounts
• an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding employment, recruitment and hiring.

All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.