Quality Engineering Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Buffalo Grove (IL); On-site; USD 91,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Job summary

Wabtec invites a Quality Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for quality across customers, manufacturing, suppliers, and new product development. You will champion structured problem solving, risk reduction, and quality planning throughout the product lifecycle.

You will partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to raise product reliability, drive continuous improvement, and ensure regulatory and customer requirements are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or related field preferred and 7+ years of progressive experience in quality engineering, including 5 years in leadership roles.
• Proven success in implementing quality improvements in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and similar standards.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Quality Engineers, providing technical guidance, coaching, and performance management.
• Lead quality initiatives supporting customer programs, manufacturing operations, suppliers, and new product development activities.
• Provide technical leadership for customer quality issues, ensuring timely containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and communication.
• Serve as the quality lead for high-impact projects and critical business initiatives.
• Drive the use of structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, DMAIC, and root cause analysis, to resolve complex quality issues and prevent recurrence.
• Lead APQP New Product Development (NPD) quality activities, including risk assessments, validation planning, and launch readiness reviews.
• Apply and promote quality tools and methodologies including FMEA, PPAP, SPC, MSA, DOE, and Control Plans to improve product and process performance.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to achieve quality objectives and improve customer satisfaction.
• Lead customer-facing quality activities including audits, issue resolution, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze quality data and performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support supplier quality improvement activities, including issue resolution, risk mitigation, and performance monitoring.
• Develop and deliver quality-related training and coaching to build organizational capability and strengthen quality awareness.
• Ensure compliance with quality management system requirements, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Drive improvements in quality systems, tools, processes, and reporting methods to enhance product quality, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Quality engineering

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Power BI

Job description

The Quality Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Quality Engineering function and developing a high-performing team that supports customers, manufacturing operations, suppliers, and new product development activities. This role ensures the effective deployment of quality engineering principles, structured problem solving, risk reduction, and quality planning throughout the product lifecycle.

The position serves as a key partner to Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to improve product quality, customer satisfaction, and business performance. Success in this role requires strong leadership, technical credibility, and the ability to influence and drive results across a cross-functional organization.

Who will you be working with?

Our Quality Team partners closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Customers and Suppliers to ensure our products meet the highest standards of reliability and performance

How will you make a difference?

• Lead and develop a team of Quality Engineers, providing technical guidance, coaching, and performance management.
• Lead quality initiatives supporting customer programs, manufacturing operations, suppliers, and new product development activities.
• Provide technical leadership for customer quality issues, ensuring timely containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and communication.
• Serve as the quality lead for high-impact projects and critical business initiatives.
• Drive the use of structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, DMAIC, and root cause analysis, to resolve complex quality issues and prevent recurrence.
• Lead APQP New Product Development (NPD) quality activities, including risk assessments, validation planning, and launch readiness reviews.
• Apply and promote quality tools and methodologies including FMEA, PPAP, SPC, MSA, DOE, and Control Plans to improve product and process performance.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to achieve quality objectives and improve customer satisfaction.
• Lead customer-facing quality activities including audits, issue resolution, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze quality data and performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support supplier quality improvement activities, including issue resolution, risk mitigation, and performance monitoring.
• Develop and deliver quality-related training and coaching to build organizational capability and strengthen quality awareness.
• Ensure compliance with quality management system requirements, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Drive improvements in quality systems, tools, processes, and reporting methods to enhance product quality, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.

What do we want to know about you?

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field preferred and 7+ years of progressive experience in quality engineering, including 5 years in leadership roles. Equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Proven success in implementing quality improvements in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and similar standards.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and project management skills.

Preferred skills

• ASQ Certification (CQE, CQA, CMQ/OE) or equivalent.
• Experience in transportation, industrial, or safety-critical product sectors.
• Familiarity with digital quality tools, automation, and data visualization platforms.
• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and leveraging analytics tools such as Power BI or AI-driven platforms to support data-informed quality decisions.

What about the physical demands of the job?

This role may involve occasional movement through manufacturing or supplier environments, including standing, walking, and light lifting (up to 25 pounds). Use of hands for handling components and tools may be required. Reasonable accommodation will be provided as needed to support individuals with disabilities.

What else do I need to know?

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $91100-129800 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.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value‑added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.

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