Quality Engineer — Continuous Improvement Leader

Socket.dev; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Shift differential

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Company paid life insurance

PTO and paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Training and advancement opportunities

Stable manufacturing environment

Employee recognition programs

Team-oriented safety culture

Job summary

AKG is seeking a Quality Engineer (QE) to lead product and process quality initiatives in a manufacturing setting. You will drive APQP/PPAP, review product drawings, and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 alignment.

You will analyze quality data, manage non-conformances, support supplier quality, and mentor teams on PFMEA, Control Plans, and work instructions. Travel may be occasional.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 3–4 years in automotive, heavy equipment, or industrial manufacturing.
• Experience with PPAP, APQP, Control Plans, and PFMEA preferred.
• ISO Internal Auditor training or equivalent is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead APQP and PPAP submissions, review and approve PPAP documentation and inspection reports.
• Review product drawings and represent Quality during new product launches, kick-off meetings, and engineering changes.
• Support development and maintenance of PFMEAs, Control Plans, and Work Instructions with cross-functional teams.
• Review, approve, and manage non-conformance reports, MRB activities, and containment actions.
• Lead root cause analysis and facilitate corrective, preventive, and continuous improvement actions.
• Serve as the primary quality contact for assigned customer accounts, customer visits, and customer issue resolution.
• Support supplier quality activities, including PPAP approval, defect containment, RGA, and supplier corrective actions.
• Conduct and support internal, process, external, and customer audits, including Gemba walks.
• Monitor, analyze, and report Quality KPIs and Built-In-Quality metrics.
• Maintain quality records, inspection data, and reporting systems, including SAP quality-related documentation.
• Develop and deliver quality training and coaching to quality personnel and production employees.
• Drive horizontal deployment of lessons learned to prevent recurrence across products and processes.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, AKG Quality Management System (QMS), Environmental Management system and applicable regulatory standards.
• Support warranty investigations and prepare customer warranty analysis reports as assigned.
• Advise internal teams on customer and supplier quality requirements, specifications, and industry standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

SAP/ERP

Microsoft 365

Job description

AKG is seeking a Quality Engineer (QE) to lead product and process quality initiatives in a manufacturing setting. You will drive APQP/PPAP, review product drawings, and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 alignment.

You will analyze quality data, manage non-conformances, support supplier quality, and mentor teams on PFMEA, Control Plans, and work instructions. Travel may be occasional.