Quality Engineering Lead — Manufacturing & QA Excellence

Top Echelon LLC; McKenzie (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Echelon LLC is seeking an experienced Quality Engineer Lead to support and lead quality initiatives in a high-volume manufacturing environment. The role focuses on maintaining ISO 9001:2015 quality systems, driving root-cause analysis, and leading corrective actions across production, engineering, and suppliers.

The ideal candidate will be hands-on on the shop floor, capable of analyzing data, improving process capability, and guiding quality teams to ensure product conformity and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience within an ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Strong knowledge of root cause analysis, corrective actions, process improvement, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and customer requirements.
• Experience with precision measurement and inspection equipment.
• Steel, metal fabrication, forging, heat treating, machining, or other heavy industrial manufacturing experience.
• Strong communication skills with production, engineering, management, suppliers, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality engineering activities supporting manufacturing operations and customer requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.
• Investigate internal and external quality issues and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead root cause analysis using tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone, 8D, and corrective action methodologies.
• Develop and maintain control plans, inspection procedures, work instructions, and quality documentation.
• Support quality requirements for manufacturing processes including heat treating, forging, forming, machining, coating, and fabrication.
• Analyze scrap, defects, rework, customer complaints, and process data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with Production and Engineering to improve process capability and reduce variation.
• Lead or support internal, customer, and third-party quality audits.
• Ensure proper product and material traceability throughout the manufacturing process.
• Oversee measurement systems, calibration requirements, and inspection equipment.
• Review customer drawings, specifications, and quality requirements to ensure manufacturing compliance.
• Support new product introductions and process changes from a quality perspective.
• Work directly with customers to resolve quality concerns and communicate corrective actions.
• Provide technical guidance and leadership to quality technicians, inspectors, and production personnel.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and accountability for quality throughout the facility.

Skills

Quality engineering

Root cause analysis

Leadership

Process improvement

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Quality/Manufacturing

Tools

SPC

PFMEA

MSA/Gage R&R

Control plans

Quality data analysis

Job description

Top Echelon LLC is seeking an experienced Quality Engineer Lead to support and lead quality initiatives in a high-volume manufacturing environment. The role focuses on maintaining ISO 9001:2015 quality systems, driving root-cause analysis, and leading corrective actions across production, engineering, and suppliers.

The ideal candidate will be hands-on on the shop floor, capable of analyzing data, improving process capability, and guiding quality teams to ensure product conformity and