Quality Engineer I

Day & Zimmermann Company; Middletown (IA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Maternity leave

Parental leave

Family leave

Life insurance

AD&D

Pet insurance

Job summary

American Ordnance seeks an entry-level Quality Engineer to turn data, problem-solving, and technical know-how into stronger, safer, more reliable manufacturing processes. In this role, you'll work directly with ammunition products and production teams—helping build quality into the process from the start, digging into root causes, supporting corrective actions, and driving continuous improvement.

You’ll gain hands-on exposure to tools like FMEA, SPC, Control Plans, CAPA, and statistical analysis

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Engineering, Quality, or Science required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences preferred.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Must pass background screening.
• Valid REAL ID-compliant driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct Quality Engineering support and promotes safety; plans and executes preventive methods to build in product quality.
• Recommends and supports continuous improvement projects using structured problem-solving methods; uses statistical methods to improve process capability, stability, and reliability.
• Supports corrective action responses using root cause analysis and preventive strategies; coordinates and approves corrective actions.
• Reviews technical documents and maintains Quality metrics; communicates quality issues across the organization.
• Leads Quality Planning activities including IQP, FMEA, Control Plans, staffing, and data reporting.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Root Cause Analysis

Statistical methods

CP2/ISO Quality Systems

FMEA

DOE

SPC

CAPA

Reading comprehension

Communication with teams

Education

Associate's Degree in Engineering, Quality, or Science

Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Preferred

Job description

Want to start your engineering career somewhere your work has real purpose and measurable impact? American Ordnance is looking for an entry-level Quality Engineer ready to turn data, problem-solving, and technical know-how into stronger, safer, more reliable manufacturing processes. In this role, you'll work directly with ammunition products and production teamshelping build quality into the process from the start, digging into root causes, supporting corrective actions, and driving continuous improvement. You'll gain hands-on exposure to tools like FMEA, SPC, Control Plans, CAPA, and statistical analysis while collaborating across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program Management. If you're analytical, curious, and ready to build your engineering career while supporting a mission that matters, you'll have a purpose here.

As The Quality Engineer I here's the work you'll do:

• Provides direct Quality Engineering support, practices and promotes safety. Plans and executes innovative, preventive methods to 'build in' product quality and improve processes. Manages inspection staffing. Interfaces with internal and external customers, represents their perspective on quality issues.
• Recommends and supports continuous improvement projects using structured, team problem solving strategies and methods. Implements preventive actions, optimizes processes to prevent critical and other defects. Uses statistical methods to improve process capability, stability and reliability.
• Supports corrective action responses using root cause analysis and preventive strategies. Coordinates and approves corrective action responses. Responds through the AO Program Manager to customer requests for data.
• Reviews TDP, ECP's, contracts, technical specifications, etc. and provides input to the Configuration Control process. Generates documents, procedures. Maintains and reports on Quality metrics for the business unit. Communicates quality issues throughout AO.
• Leads Quality Planning activities utilizing Initial Quality Planning (IQP), FMEA, Control Plans, staffing and resource planning and data reporting. Supports AIE/AAIE review, test, R&R studies and approvals for AO ammunition items and component suppliers.

This role is for you if you have these skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Must have an intimate knowledge and understanding of the principles, practices and procedures of CP2/ISO Quality Systems and continuous improvement tools such as DOEs, SPC, FMEA, and Control Plans.
• May require a secret clearance.

And if you have these qualifications:

• Associate's Degree (AA) in Engineering, Quality, or Science Required
• Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Preferred
• A positive attitude and the ability to collaborate with team members is essential for contributing to a cohesive work environment.
• Successful completion of a background screening process is mandated for all candidates.
• Must possess a valid REAL ID-compliant driver's license, which includes the gold or black star in the upper corner, indicating it is federally compliant.

Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.

In compliance with this state's pay transparency laws, the salary range for this role is $61,200 - $91,800 annually. Please note that this range is not a guarantee of compensation; final offer amounts may vary based on experience and geographic location. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on the date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

We care about our Employees and it shows!

Our staff receive a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical/Rx, dental and vision coverage; life, AD&D and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; 100% paid maternity leave for up to 12 weeks, parental leave, family leave, other paid time off; voluntary benefits and discount programs to meet our employees individual needs including pet insurance for our furry family members!

To ensure a safe work environment while meeting the physical demands of the job, you must be able to perform the following physical and mental tasks, with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Visual acuity (e.g., needed to prepare and analyze data, to transcribe documents, to view a computer, to read, to inspect objects, to operate machinery
• Pushing or pulling (e.g., using a part of your body to press against something in a downward or outward direction, or in a dragging or hauling motion)
• Balancing (e.g., maintaining equilibrium when walking, climbing, crouching etc.)
• Manual Dexterity (e.g., picking, pinching, typing, or other working that uses the fingers)
• Stooping (e.g., bending the spine at the waist)
• Grasping (e.g., use of hand to apply pressure)
• Reaching (e.g., reaching the arms or legs in any direction)
• Feeling (e.g., perceiving an object's size, shape, texture etc.)
• Lifting motion or lifting objects more than 15 pounds
• Climbing (e.g., ascending/descending ladders, stair, scaffolding, ramps, pole etc. using feet and legs or hands/arms to climb)
• Walking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motions of any part of the body
• Talking
• Kneeling, crouching or crawling
• Capacity to think, concentrate and focus over long periods of time
• Ability to write complex documents in the [English] language
• Ability to read complex documents in [English] language
• Capacity to express thoughts orally (e.g., accurately, quick and loudly convey spoken instructions to workers)
• Capacity to reason and make sound decisions
• Ability to wear a mask, respirator, bullet proof vest, or other equipment
• Ability to regularly perform all job functions at Company's office or work site
• Ability to withstand environmental conditions (e.g., extreme heat or cold, grass, wind, sand, fumes, odors, gases, extreme noise, etc.)