Quality Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

On-site fitness center

Job summary

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of fitness equipment worldwide. You will lead root-cause analyses, drive corrective actions, and strengthen manufacturing quality systems while collaborating with Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and suppliers on new product launches and production changes.

You will analyze customer complaints and field data to identify trends, lead continuous improvement projects using Lean and

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, Pareto, and verification.
• Collaborate across Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and suppliers to resolve quality issues.
• Support ISO 9001 compliance activities and maintain QMS improvements.
• Develop and deliver quality training to improve problem-solving and execution of quality requirements.
• Lead supplier quality initiatives including SCARs, containment, escalations, and verification.
• Analyze customer complaints, warranty, and field data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and data-driven methods.
• Provide guidance to Quality Technicians and shop-floor teams.

Skills

Root cause analysis

SPC

Advanced Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

ISO 9001 awareness

PPAP/PFMEA/Control Plans

MSA

Six Sigma

Statistical methods

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

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.

Why Join Us?

You’ll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on product quality, customer satisfaction, and manufacturing excellence while collaborating with talented teams who are passionate about innovation and continuous improvement. If you thrive in a hands-on manufacturing environment, enjoy solving complex problems, and are motivated by delivering exceptional results, we’d love to hear from you.

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 , and raise the bar on fitness innovation —in the gym and in every corner of our facilities. We persevere and get it done , with a clear purpose to inspire each other to live healthier lives.

At Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, we believe in taking care of our team with a comprehensive total rewards package that includes competitive pay and a range of valuable benefits. 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.

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time team members, including, but not limited to: 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, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions.Employees also have access to our state-of-the-art on-site fitness center featuring industry-leading Life Fitness and Hammer Strength equipment, making it easy to support health and wellness before, during, or after the workday. Eligibility for benefits is governed by the applicable plan documents and policies.

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 regardingemployment_,_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.

Life Fitness/Hammer Strength does not accept applications, inquiries or solicitations from unapproved staffing agencies or vendors.