Quality Engineer

Sems and Specials Incorporated; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sems and Specials Incorporated is seeking a hands-on Quality Engineer to own quality performance across cold heading, thread rolling, heat treatment, plating, machining, and final inspection. You’ll partner with production, engineering, suppliers, and customers to drive lasting improvements in our fastener manufacturing operations.

You’ll lead root-cause investigations using 8D, A3, and 5-Why; develop PFMEAs and control plans; and drive APQP/PPAP for new products and changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Metallurgical, Quality, or a related engineering discipline.
• Five or more years of Quality Engineering experience in fastener manufacturing, metal forming, machining, automotive, aerospace, or another high-volume precision‑manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading corrective actions and reducing defects, scrap, rework, or customer complaints.
• Strong working knowledge of SPC, MSA, PFMEA, control plans, APQP, PPAP, 8D, and corrective‑action systems.
• Familiarity with fastener materials, thread forms, mechanical testing, coatings and plating, heat treatment, and dimensional inspection methods.
• Experience working within an ISO 9001 quality‑management system.
• Proficiency with Excel and quality or statistical‑analysis software.
• Ability to travel occasionally to customer, supplier, or company locations.

Responsibilities

• Own quality performance for assigned manufacturing processes including cold heading, thread rolling, heat treatment, plating, machining, sorting, and final inspection.
• Lead root‑cause investigations and corrective actions for internal defects, customer complaints, process escapes, and supplier nonconformances using 8D, A3, and 5‑Why methods.
• Develop and maintain process flows, PFMEAs, control plans, inspection plans, work instructions, and reaction plans.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to improve first-pass yield, reduce scrap and rework, and prevent repeat defects.
• Lead APQP and PPAP activities for new products, process changes, customer launches, and supplier transitions.
• Ensure products and processes meet customer requirements, engineering specifications, material requirements, and applicable quality standards.
• Work directly with customers and suppliers on containment, corrective actions, quality improvement, qualification, and launch readiness.
• Improve inspection and measurement systems through gauge selection, calibration, MSA, GR&R, fixture validation, and inspection‑method improvements.
• Train employees on quality standards, inspection methods, defect recognition, and problem‑solving practices.
• Maintain accurate quality records and support compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Quality engineering

Process improvement

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Metallurgical, Quality, or related engineering

Tools

Minitab

ERP/MES systems

Electronic quality-management systems

Job description

Quality Engineer — Fastener Manufacturing

Location: United States

Department: Quality & Operational Excellence

Reports to: Director of Quality

We are a leading U.S. manufacturer of precision screws, bolts, specialty fasteners, and engineered components serving the automotive, industrial, construction, aerospace, and commercial markets.

We are seeking a hands‑on Quality Engineer who can use data to improve processes, prevent defects, and strengthen quality performance. This role works closely with production, engineering, suppliers, and customers to drive lasting improvements across our operations.

What you’ll do

• Own quality performance for assigned manufacturing processes, including cold heading, thread rolling, heat treatment, plating/coating, machining, sorting, and final inspection.
• Lead root‑cause investigations and corrective actions for internal defects, customer complaints, process escapes, and supplier nonconformances using 8D, A3, and 5‑Why methods.
• Develop and maintain process flows, PFMEAs, control plans, inspection plans, work instructions, and reaction plans.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to improve first-pass yield, reduce scrap and rework, and prevent repeat defects.
• Lead APQP and PPAP activities for new products, process changes, customer launches, and supplier transitions.
• Ensure products and processes meet customer requirements, engineering specifications, material requirements, and applicable quality standards.
• Work directly with customers and suppliers on containment, corrective actions, quality improvement, qualification, and launch readiness.
• Improve inspection and measurement systems through gauge selection, calibration, MSA, GR&R, fixture validation, and inspection‑method improvements.
• Train employees on quality standards, inspection methods, defect recognition, and problem‑solving practices.
• Maintain accurate quality records and support compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Metallurgical, Quality, or a related engineering discipline.
• Five or more years of Quality Engineering experience in fastener manufacturing, metal forming, machining, automotive, aerospace, or another high-volume precision‑manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading corrective actions and reducing defects, scrap, rework, or customer complaints.
• Strong working knowledge of SPC, MSA, PFMEA, control plans, APQP, PPAP, 8D, and corrective‑action systems.
• Familiarity with fastener materials, thread forms, mechanical testing, coatings and plating, heat treatment, and dimensional inspection methods.
• Experience working within an ISO 9001 quality‑management system.
• Proficiency with Excel and quality or statistical‑analysis software.
• Ability to travel occasionally to customer, supplier, or company locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AS9100, CQI requirements, NADCAP, or other customer‑specific quality standards.
• Experience with Minitab, ERP/MES systems, or electronic quality‑management systems.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or a comparable certification.

This is a hands‑on role with visible ownership of quality performance across our manufacturing operations. Your work will directly improve product reliability, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.

Salary range: $80,000–$110,000 annually, based on relevant experience, technical expertise, qualifications, internal equity, and work location.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, health savings spending accounts; company‑paid life and disability insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan with company match; paid time off; paid holidays; parental leave; and professional‑development support.

Fair‑Chance Hiring

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We do not request or consider criminal‑history information until the stage permitted by Illinois law. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, arrest record, conviction record, citizenship status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Pay Equity

We do not request or rely upon an applicant’s wage or salary history when making employment or compensation decisions. Applicants may discuss or disclose their own compensation and benefits without retaliation.

This posting includes the position’s anticipated pay scale and a general description of benefits and other compensation, as required for covered Illinois job postings. The company will retain this job posting and related pay‑scale and benefits information as required by applicable law.