Quality Engineer

Actalent; Portland (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Quality Engineer to support a forging manufacturing facility by ensuring materials, processes, and products meet stringent customer and industry requirements. The role emphasizes metallurgical and heat-treatment quality, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement to enable new product launches and growth into aerospace and defense markets.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to drive robust quality systems, apply Lean and Six Sigma methods,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a materials or engineering field required.
• Experience applying statistical analysis to process quality and capability.
• Background in forging and heat-treatment quality and supplier quality.

Responsibilities

• Review manufacturing jobs for material selection, heat treatment, and specs.
• Investigate metallurgical and heat-treatment issues with root cause analysis.
• Develop corrective and preventive actions for non-conforming materials and processes.
• Coordinate third-party testing, review reports, and dispositions of results.
• Verify incoming material chemistry against certifications and specs.

Skills

Root cause analysis

Statistical analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Continuous improvement

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering, Engineering Physics, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

Minitab

JMP

ERP systems

PLM systems

AS9100 experience

Job description

Job Title: Quality Engineer

Job Description

The Quality Engineer supports a growing manufacturing facility by ensuring that materials, processes, and products meet stringent customer and industry requirements. This role focuses on metallurgical and heat-treatment quality, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement to support new product launches and expanding into highly regulated industries such as aerospace and defense. The Quality Engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers to drive robust quality systems and sustained process capability.

Responsibilities

• Review new and revised manufacturing jobs to validate material selection, heat treatment requirements, processing routes, and compliance with customer specifications.
• Assess and confirm that all manufacturing documentation aligns with applicable specifications, standards, and internal procedures.
• Investigate metallurgical, quality, and heat-treatment issues, performing thorough root cause analysis to identify underlying causes of non-conforming materials, processes, and products.
• Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions for non-conforming materials, processes, and products to prevent recurrence.
• Manage third-party laboratory testing by coordinating sample submissions, tracking test progress, reviewing technical reports, and determining appropriate disposition for failed results.
• Verify incoming material chemistry against certifications and specifications to ensure conformance and support supplier quality initiatives.
• Drive supplier corrective actions when incoming materials do not meet specified requirements.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Production, heat treatment vendors, and steel suppliers to develop and refine metallurgical programs that support current and future product needs.
• Support new product launches by ensuring that materials, heat-treatment processes, and quality controls are properly defined, validated, and documented.
• Improve process capability and product consistency using Lean, Six Sigma, and other quality methodologies and tools.
• Apply statistical analysis tools and data analytics to monitor process performance, identify trends, and recommend data-driven improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to promote a culture of continuous improvement and proactive quality management.
• Communicate findings, recommendations, and status updates clearly through written reports and verbal presentations.
• Ensure that quality-related activities adhere to applicable safety and environmental regulations.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of quality documentation, including procedures, work instructions, and control plans.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Materials Engineering, Engineering Physics, Chemistry, or a related engineering or science field.
• 35 years of experience in a quality engineering role in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience using statistical analysis tools and data analytics such as Minitab, JMP, or equivalent software.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify minute surface defects and subtle quality issues.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including structured root cause analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities for effective interaction with internal teams, suppliers, and external laboratories.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build strong cross-functional relationships.
• Proactive approach to quality improvement with a high level of initiative.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Familiarity with safety and environmental regulations relevant to manufacturing and forging operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Direct heat treatment experience, including understanding of heat-treatment processes and their impact on material properties.
• Experience working within AS9100 or other regulated quality management systems.
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries.
• Familiarity with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.
• Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Interest in career growth opportunities across multiple locations and product lines.

Work Environment

This role is based in a forging manufacturing environment within a long-established facility that has operated for over a century and is experiencing significant growth, including expansion into aerospace and defense markets. The position is primarily office-based, but requires regular presence on the production floor, typically around 40% of the time depending on project demands. The production floor environment can be hot and dirty, with exposure to heavy industrial equipment, forging operations, and associated noise and heat. Team members work closely with production, engineering, and quality staff, as well as external vendors and laboratories, using tools such as statistical analysis software, ERP systems, and PLM systems. The culture emphasizes continuous improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and adherence to safety and environmental regulations while supporting long-term growth and development opportunities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Portland, IN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $110000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

(Insert Benefits, e.g., health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Portland,IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.