Quality Engineer

USA Rare Earth, LLC; Stillwater (OK); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Rare Earth is seeking a Quality Engineer to support APQP-driven product launches and uphold the integrity of the Quality System across manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, and supplier teams.

You will lead PPAPs, audits, corrective actions, and customer assessments, ensuring compliance with ISO/AS standards and customer requirements.

The role emphasizes hands-on quality leadership, training, and continuous improvement, with on-site work and occasional travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5–10 years of hands-on quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO 9001, AS 9100, or IATF 16949 certification.
• Understanding of PFMEAs and control plans.
• Ability to lead and train others on the team.
• Capable of leading or supporting the corrective action process.
• Basic computer skills, including ERP systems, Excel, and data entry.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Preferred: experience supporting manufacturing or industrial production workflows; exposure to 5S and continuous improvement practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the APQP process for new and revised products, from voice-of-customer requirements through to production launch, ensuring all deliverables meet customer and regulatory specifications.
• Facilitate cross-functional APQP teams, including engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and suppliers, to drive program milestones and resolve risks on schedule.
• Manage PPAP submissions, including flow diagrams, FMEA, process control plans, and gate reviews, to ensure supplier and internal processes are approved before volume production.
• Support Quality Leadership with new product launches.
• Lead or participate in the corrective action process.
• Support receiving and final inspections.
• Perform internal audits per schedule and direction, following findings through to closure.
• Lead or support the completion of customer assessments.

Skills

Quality Assurance

APQP

FMEA

PFMEA

Audit leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

Job description

THE ROLE

The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting daily Quality System operations and plays a critical part in maintaining the integrity of the Quality System. This role supports Quality Leadership with new product launches, taking a customer-facing approach. With a primary focus on Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), the engineer ensures that products and processes are designed, validated, and launched to meet customer requirements, quality standards, and regulatory obligations. The engineer works closely with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and supplier teams to build quality into products and processes from the start.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

APQP & Product Launch

• Lead the APQP process for new and revised products, from voice-of-customer requirements through to production launch, ensuring all deliverables meet customer and regulatory specifications.
• Facilitate cross-functional APQP teams, including engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and suppliers, to drive program milestones and resolve risks on schedule.
• Manage PPAP submissions, including flow diagrams, FMEA, process control plans, and gate reviews, to ensure supplier and internal processes are approved before volume production.
• Support Quality Leadership with new product launches.

Corrective Action & Inspection

• Lead or participate in the corrective action process.
• Support receiving and final inspections.
• Perform internal audits per schedule and direction, following findings through to closure.

Customer Assessments

• Lead or support the completion of customer assessments.
• Provide on-site support at the customer when required.

Standard Work, Safety & Improvement

• Contribute to the generation of standard work instructions, and train others on them.
• Follow all company safety policies, mandatory PPE requirements, and operational guidelines.
• Participate in 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 5–10 years of hands‑on quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO 9001, AS 9100, or IATF 16949 certification.
• Understanding of PFMEAs and control plans.
• Ability to lead and train others on the team.
• Capable of leading or supporting the corrective action process.
• Basic computer skills, including ERP systems, Excel, and data entry.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Preferred: experience supporting manufacturing or industrial production workflows; exposure to 5S and continuous improvement practices.

CORE COMPETENCIES & KEY ATTRIBUTES

Courage & Pioneering Spirit

Takes firm positions on product readiness and launch gates, and supports new products with a customer-first approach.

Integrity & Transparency

Reports APQP, PPAP, and audit findings accurately and completely, including issues that could delay a launch or customer shipment.

Personal Responsibility & Zero Harm

Builds safety and PPE requirements into every quality plan, and holds the team to the same standard on the floor and at customer sites.

Excellence & Innovation

Uses FMEAs, control plans, and audit trends to build quality into products and processes before launch.

Agility & Entrepreneurial Drive

Responds quickly to customer assessments, launch timing and shifting priorities, and takes ownership of issues through closure.

Partnership & Shared Value

Works with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and suppliers to resolve launch risks together, and develops the team’s capability.

LIVING OUR VALUES

The successful candidate will be an influential member of the Quality team and champion of our company values: Courage & Pioneering Spirit, Integrity & Transparency, Personal Responsibility & Zero Harm, Excellence & Innovation, Agility & Entrepreneurial Drive, and Partnership & Shared Value. You will model these values in all interactions and help your colleagues embody them in every aspect of Quality Engineer work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to perform frequent standing, walking, and bending.
• Ability to travel to customer sites and provide on-site support when required.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment for the duration of a shift.

The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, a manufacturing floor and a construction site.
Noise level: Normal office, manufacturing and construction noises.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporation.

_ USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities. _

All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require assistance with the application process due to a disability, please contact [e-mail] to discuss reasonable accommodations.