Quality Engineer IV

Wabtec; Buffalo Grove (IL); On-site; USD 79,100 - 112,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

Wabtec in Buffalo Grove, IL, is seeking a senior Quality Engineer IV to serve as a technical resource for quality systems, manufacturing process improvement, and customer quality. You’ll lead 8D and DMAIC initiatives, support APQP/PPAP readiness, and drive improvements across manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain.

You’ll mentor engineers, influence cross-functional teams, and manage supplier quality, field quality, and warranty issues as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field preferred; equivalent quality/manufacturing experience accepted as outlined below.
• Minimum 8 years in quality roles within industrial manufacturing environments, including customer-facing quality experience. Automotive experience preferred. Candidates without a degree may qualify with 10 years of relevant quality experience, including 4 years of customer-facing quality experience.
• Expert-level knowledge of quality engineering, quality systems, customer complaint management, ISO 9001, ERP/MES, and digital QMS platforms. Strong working knowledge of 8D, DMAIC, A3, FMEA/PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, DOE, APQP/PPAP, lean manufacturing, error proofing, statistical analysis, analytics, and available BI tools is required. Lean Practitioner/Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex customer complaints, containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and executive-ready updates.
• Drive systemic improvements using 8D, DMAIC, FMEA/PFMEA, DOE, SPC, MSA, analytics, and data-based problem solving.
• Support NPI from cradle to grave, including quality planning, process validation, launch support, and post-launch monitoring.
• Lead and support lean manufacturing, error proofing, process simplification, and process lean-out efforts to reduce waste and prevent defects.
• Mentor quality engineers, coach cross-functional teams, and provide oversight on complex technical quality decisions.
• Support supplier quality, field quality, warranty, rework, and FMI-related issue resolution as applicable.
• Use KPIs, COPQ, scorecards, QMS data, statistical knowledge, and available BI tools to identify systemic risks and prioritize actions.
• Align quality priorities with leadership and support execution of the quality roadmap.

Skills

Quality engineering

8D & DMAIC

FMEA / PFMEA

DOE

SPC / MSA

Statistical analysis

BI tools

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/science or related field

Equivalent quality/manufacturing experience

Job description

As a Quality Engineer IV, you’ll serve as a senior technical resource for quality engineering, quality systems, customer quality, and manufacturing process improvement. You’ll lead high-impact initiatives that improve product quality, customer confidence, manufacturing performance, and cost of poor quality.

This role supports bus transit technologies including doors, lifts, ramps, e-Bus charging systems, driver protection barriers, windows, and related subsystems. You’ll work across manufacturing, customers, suppliers, engineering, operations, sales, and supply chain to solve complex quality issues and drive practical improvements.

How will you make a difference?

You’ll lead complex 8D and DMAIC initiatives, support APQP/PPAP readiness, facilitate FMEA/PFMEA risk mitigation, support lean manufacturing and error proofing, and evaluate New Product Introduction (NPI) from cradle to grave.

What do we want to know about you?

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field preferred; equivalent quality/manufacturing experience accepted as outlined below.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years in quality roles within industrial manufacturing environments, including customer-facing quality experience. Automotive experience preferred. Candidates without a degree may qualify with 10 years of relevant quality experience, including 4 years of customer-facing quality experience.
• Technical Expertise: Expert-level knowledge of quality engineering, quality systems, customer complaint management, ISO 9001, ERP/MES, and digital QMS platforms. Strong working knowledge of 8D, DMAIC, A3, FMEA/PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, DOE, APQP/PPAP, lean manufacturing, error proofing, statistical analysis, analytics, and available BI tools is required. Lean Practitioner/Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent experience preferred.

What will your typical day look like?

• Lead complex customer complaints, containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and executive-ready updates.
• Drive systemic improvements using 8D, DMAIC, FMEA/PFMEA, DOE, SPC, MSA, analytics, and data-based problem solving.
• Support NPI from cradle to grave, including quality planning, process validation, launch support, and post-launch monitoring.
• Lead and support lean manufacturing, error proofing, process simplification, and process lean-out efforts to reduce waste and prevent defects.
• Mentor quality engineers, coach cross-functional teams, and provide oversight on complex technical quality decisions.
• Support supplier quality, field quality, warranty, rework, and FMI-related issue resolution as applicable.
• Use KPIs, COPQ, scorecards, QMS data, statistical knowledge, and available BI tools to identify systemic risks and prioritize actions.
• Align quality priorities with leadership and support execution of the quality roadmap.

What about the physical demands of the job?

• Work in an office environment with regular shop floor presence.
• Stand, walk, navigate manufacturing facilities, and use a computer for extended periods.
• Occasionally lift or move up to 25 lbs.
• Travel up to 10% to customers and manufacturing sites.
• Assist with building, testing, and inspecting electro‑mechanical systems as needed.

You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.

Relocation assistance may be provided if eligibility requirements are met. Employment requires legal authorization to work in the U.S. and successful completion of applicable screenings.

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $79100-112800. The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

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