Quality Engineer: Root-Cause & Process Improvement

HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing) Company

Hickory (NC)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 100,000

Full time

12 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

On-Site Medical Clinics

Teladoc

Job summary

HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing) Company is seeking a Quality Engineer to drive product and process quality improvements across automotive and high-volume manufacturing environments. You will blend technical knowledge, data analysis, and practical problem-solving to advance quality systems and supplier performance.

The role requires a BS in engineering and 3+ years of Quality Engineering experience, with proficiency in APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and SPC.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
Three or more years of Quality Engineering experience, preferably in automotive, transportation, or high-volume manufacturing.
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
Familiarity with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and VDA 6.3 requirements.
Experience supporting quality systems, audits, and customer-specific requirements.
Ability to read engineering drawings, GD&T, and inspection criteria.
Experience with dimensional inspection tools and process capability studies, including Cpk and Ppk.
Experience using structured problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa analysis.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into practical improvements.
Clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate across operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams.
An organized, detail-oriented approach with the ability to manage priorities independently.
Advanced Excel skills and experience with Minitab, SPC software, and ERP/MRP systems are preferred.

Responsibilities

Support and improve quality systems aligned with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and VDA 6.3.
Create PFMEAs, Control Plans, work instructions, and layered process audits.
Analyze scrap, first-pass yield, PPM, and other quality metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
Support the Material Review Board process and help resolve nonconforming material.
Review supplier PPAP submissions, quality documentation, corrective actions, and launch-readiness risks.
Track supplier performance and help coordinate corrective actions and issue resolution.
Support APQP activities, including feasibility reviews, process validation, capability studies, and launch-readiness assessments.
Prepare and maintain PPAPs, first article inspections, capability studies, and related quality records.
Analyze product and process data using SPC tools to identify trends, variation, and potential risks.
Lead or support structured root cause investigations using methods such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa.
Participate in Gemba walks, plant meetings, internal audits, customer audits, and cross-functional improvement projects.
Help strengthen receiving inspection, document control, QMS training, and cost-of-poor-quality reduction efforts.
Serve as a technical resource for quality technicians and production teams.