Quality Engineer II or III - NPI Support

Woodward Inc.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Annual stock contribution

Tuition reimbursement

12 paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Adoption Assistance

Life Insurance

Referral bonus

Job summary

Woodward Inc. is seeking a Quality Engineer II or III in Rockford to support new product introductions (NPI) and ensure the highest quality across aerospace products.

You will lead quality assurance activities, perform root cause analysis, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements. The role requires 3–5 years in aerospace quality, experience with DFMEA/PFMEA and APQP, and a passion for exceeding regulatory and customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology related field required.
• Minimum 3–5 years in Aerospace Quality or regulated manufacturing/technology field.
• Experience in customer-facing role, leading RCCAs with cross-functional teams.
• NPI project execution experience.
• Proficient in customer contract review & generation of compliance matrices.
• Familiar with DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plan, MSA, capability analysis, and PPAP.
• Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt training.
• AS9100 Certified Internal Auditor.
• APQP training.

Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance Execution: implement and monitor quality processes to meet product standards.
• Root cause analysis and issue resolution using data and technical judgment.
• Mentor junior team members to reinforce quality protocols.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and production to improve quality and efficiency.
• Document and communicate quality metrics and improvement recommendations.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Root Cause Analysis

Process Improvement

Technical Documentation

Data Analysis

Regulatory Compliance

Communication

Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Mentoring

Leadership

Complex Problem Solving

Project Management

Risk Management

Continuous Improvement

Data Driven Decision Making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology related field

Job description

## Quality Engineer II or III - NPI SupportApply: On-Site: Rockford - Rock Cut Campus (RCC): Rockford - Loves Park Campus (LPC): Full time: Posted Today: JR113359Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.**Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position.** Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.**Level II*** Estimated annual base pay: $75,000.00(minimum) - $97,000.00(midpoint) - $120,000.00(maximum)**Level III*** Estimated annual base pay: $89,000.00(minimum) - $116,000.00(midpoint) - $142,000.00(maximum)**All Levels are eligible for the benefits below:*** All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.* 401(k) match (4.5%)* Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)* Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members* 12 paid holidays, including floating holidays.* Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire* Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.* Paid parental leave.* Adoption Assistance* Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.* Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life* Member referral bonus* Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending* Voluntary benefits, including: + Home / Auto Insurance discounts + Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave**Summary:**At Woodward, our Quality function is more than just a department, it's the backbone of our commitment to excellence. As a member of this critical team, you'll play a direct role in developing new products and ensuring that every product we deliver meets the highest standards of safety, performance, and compliance. You will be actively involved in leading APQP activities as we develop new products and transfer products between facilities. **Level II****Key Responsibilities:*** Quality Assurance Execution: Implements and monitors quality assurance processes and procedures to ensure product standards are consistently met.* Problem Analysis: Identifies and resolves quality related issues by analyzing data and applying technical expertise and judgment.* Team Mentorship: Provides informal guidance and support to new team members to enhance their understanding of quality protocols and practices.* Cross Functional Collaboration: Collaborates with engineering, production, and other departments to improve product quality and process efficiency.* Quality Reporting: Documents and communicates quality metrics, findings, and improvement recommendations to relevant stakeholders.**Key Skills:*** Quality Assurance: Expertise in implementing and maintaining quality assurance processes and standards to ensure product excellence.* Root Cause Analysis: Proficient in identifying and analyzing the underlying causes of quality issues using industry standard methodologies.* Process Improvement: Skilled in evaluating and enhancing manufacturing or business processes to optimize quality outcomes and efficiency.* Technical Documentation: Ability to create, manage, and maintain accurate technical documentation and quality reports.* Data Analysis: Experienced in analyzing quality data and metrics to inform decision making and drive continuous improvement.* Regulatory Compliance: Knowledgeable in relevant industry regulations and standards, ensuring all processes meet compliance requirements.* Communication: Capable of clearly explaining complex quality related information to team members and stakeholders in straightforward situations.* Problem Solving: Adept at resolving quality related problems using technical judgment, experience, and established precedents.* Team Collaboration: Effective in working within team guidelines and policies, positively impacting both personal and team quality outputs.* Mentoring: Provides informal guidance and support to new team members, fostering a collaborative and knowledgeable work environment.**Level III****Key Responsibilities:*** Quality Assurance Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive quality assurance plans to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.* Problem Resolution: Identify, analyze, and resolve complex quality issues by leveraging advanced problem-solving techniques and multi-source information.* Project Leadership: Lead small-scale quality improvement projects, coordinating resources and managing timelines to achieve project objectives.* Best Practices Implementation: Integrate industry best practices into quality processes, ensuring continuous improvement and competitive differentiation.* Mentorship and Support: Serve as a resource for less experienced colleagues, providing guidance and fostering a collaborative work environment.**Key Skills:*** Quality Assurance: Expertise in developing and implementing quality assurance methodologies and standards.* Complex Problem Solving: Ability to analyze and resolve intricate quality related issues independently.* Project Management: Skilled in managing and leading small to medium sized quality engineering projects from initiation to completion.* Technical Analysis: Proficient in analyzing quality data, metrics, and performance indicators to drive improvements.* Leadership: Acts as a knowledgeable resource for less experienced colleagues and leads project initiatives with manageable risks.* Effective Communication: Capable of explaining difficult or sensitive quality information clearly and building consensus among stakeholders.* Risk Management: Identifies potential quality risks and implements strategies to mitigate them within project parameters.* Continuous Improvement: Applies best practices and integrates quality engineering processes with other business areas to enhance overall performance.* Regulatory Compliance: In-depth understanding of relevant industry standards and regulations to ensure products meet required specifications.* Data Driven Decision Making: Utilizes data analytics to inform and guide quality engineering decisions and strategies.**Successful candidates typically have:*** Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology related field* Minimum 3-5 years in Aerospace Quality or regulated manufacturing, technology related field* Previous experience in Customer facing role, leading RCCAs with cross-functional teams* NPI project execution* Proficient in customer contract review & generation of compliance matrices* Familiar with leading DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plan, MSA, capability analysis, and PPAP* Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt training* AS9100 Certified Internal Auditor* APQP TrainedThis position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.