Quality Engineer / Quality Lead

Gleason Corporation; Loves Park (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gleason Corporation in Loves Park, IL is seeking a Quality Engineer / Quality Lead to join our manufacturing team in a hybrid role.

You will develop, implement, and maintain quality standards, lead inspection on the shop floor, and drive continuous improvement across ISO 9001/14001 programs, ensuring dimensional accuracy and process capability throughout production.

Qualifications

• Experience of 2+ years in manufacturing quality/quality engineering.
• Proficient blueprint reading and interpretation for part inspection and QA.
• Hands-on metrology experience with CMM and precision measuring tools.
• Proven use of QA tools (FMEA, SPC, RCA) for problem solving.
• Strong technical writing and capability to coach inspectors on the floor.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and audit quality control systems and inspection plans for incoming, in-process, and finished goods.
• Lead root-cause investigations and coordinate corrective actions (8D, Fishbone).
• Write and update SOPs and Quality Manuals.
• Collaborate to evaluate corrective actions (OSARs) and ensure timely implementation.
• Track quality metrics and present trends to management.
• Perform advanced metrology inspections on first articles and critical runs.
• Oversee calibration schedules and ISO compliance across gages and equipment.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and ISO internal audits (9001/14001).

Skills

Blueprint reading

CMM inspection

QA tooling (FMEA, SPC, RCA)

Written communication

Team coaching / leadership

Education

Associate's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

CMM equipment

Optical comparators

Micrometers & calipers

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Quality Engineer / Quality Lead to join our manufacturing team. This hybrid role bridges technical quality engineering with hands‑on, high-level inspection leadership. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality standards, while actively leading our inspection team on the shop floor.

The ideal candidate possesses strong engineering problem-solving skills (like root-cause analysis) alongside expert-level knowledge of precision measurement tools to ensure product specifications are consistently met, defects are proactively eliminated, and the highest standards of manufacturing quality and dimensional accuracy are maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality Engineering Process Improvement: Design, implement, and audit quality control systems and inspection plans for incoming, in-process, and finished goods.
• Root-Cause Analysis: Lead investigations into internal non‑conformances and customer returns using structured problem‑solving methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, 8D, Fishbone diagrams).
• Documentation & Compliance: Author and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Quality Manuals.
• Quality: Collaboration with all areas to evaluate internal / external / supplier corrective action requests (OSARS) and ensure timely and effective implementations of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Data Analysis: Track and analyze quality metrics (scrap rates, defect types) to identify trends and present actionable data to management.
• Quality Lead Advanced Metrology: Perform complex, high‑precision inspections on first‑article parts, prototypes, and critical production runs using CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machines), optical comparators, micrometers, and calipers.
• Team Leadership: Provide technical support and coordinate quality technician team daily schedules, inspection tasks, department assignments to ensure testing throughput matches production timelines.
• Calibration Management: Oversee the calibration schedule and database for all plant measurement gages and inspection equipment, ensuring compliance with ISO standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Serve as the facilitator of the continuous improvement system and team to drive organizational changes and improvement suggestions.
• ISO internal Auditor: function as a lead auditor for ISO 9001-ISO 14001 for internal compliance to the standards.

Qualifications & Skills Required

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience in a manufacturing quality or quality engineering role.
• Technical Skills: High proficiency in blueprint reading.
• Metrology: Hands‑on experience operating CMM equipment and using standard precision measuring tools.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated experience using QA tools (FMEA, SPC, Root‑Cause Analysis).
• Communication: Strong technical writing skills for creating reports and the ability to coach floor inspectors and communicate defects to production teams.
• Inspection: Gear inspection experience a plus Preferred:
• Education: Associate's degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a related technical field (or equivalent hands‑on experience).
• Certifications: ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) Preferred
• Industry Standards: Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISOI 14001 quality & environmental management systems.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Must be able to navigate a bustling manufacturing floor safely.Ability to lift up to 35 lbs occasionally.Prolonged periods of standing at inspection stations and working on a computer.

Other Requirements

Other Requirements This position requires that a certain level of confidentiality be maintained. Practice and follow the Gleason Business Philosophy (GBP) and be knowledgeable in the company's ISO 9001 & 14001 targets, objectives and goals. Have a clear understanding of departmental work instructions and processes. Employee is required to learn, understand and practice Lean Manufacturing principles within our facility and be capable of moving freely throughout the manufacturing plant and office to perform assignments. Employees must be willing to attain ISO Auditor qualification, attend additional training as necessary, and project a positive image of self, department, and company.