Quality Engineering Manager

Ranpak-Corp.-; Shelton (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ranpak is seeking a Working Manager - Quality Engineering Manager, North America Automation, to lead an integrated QA system across design, validation, manufacturing, and service. You will drive prevention-focused quality, coordinate DFMEA/PFMEA, and transform field data into prioritized corrective actions while ensuring product reliability and learning loops.

Responsibilities include partnering with engineering, managing RCAs, and guiding NPI, supplier quality, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 8+ years progressive quality/engineering experience with leadership responsibility.
• Experience with electromechanical or engineered products, not just commodity manufacturing.
• Hands-on capability in RCA/8D, FMEA, validation/verification, NPI, manufacturing quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead the NA Automation Quality Engineering program to shift from inspection to engineered prevention and reliability.
• Partner with Engineering and Product Management through the product development lifecycle to define and meet quality requirements.
• Apply DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessments, and lessons-learned methodologies.
• Develop and oversee product verification, validation, and qualification activities by risk and customer needs.
• Support NPI and ensure manufacturing readiness before production.
• Establish and maintain FAI and first-build controls for new/modified products.
• Translate quality requirements into manufacturing controls and process validation.
• Lead supplier quality improvements and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

RCA/8D/CAPA

DFMEA/PFMEA

NPI/Validation

Quality Systems

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Equivalent relevant experience

Tools

Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Job description

This working manager role is expected to move Automation Quality frominspection and reactive issue management toward engineered prevention, product reliability and closed-loop learning.

The Quality Engineering Manager, North America Automation is accountable for establishing and leading an effective quality engineering system across the North America Automation business that ensures products are designed, validated, manufactured, released and supported with demonstrated quality and reliability. The role leads prevention-focused quality engineering across product development, NPI, manufacturing, supplier interfaces, product changes and field performance. The position converts customer, service, manufacturing and engineering quality data into prioritized action and ensures significant technical failures are contained, root-caused and permanently corrected. The role is expected to move Automation Quality frominspection and reactive issue management toward engineered prevention, product reliability and closed-loop learning.

• Partner with Engineering and Product Management throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure quality requirements and acceptance criteria are clearly defined and achieved.
• Participate in design reviews, technical reviews, and product development initiatives to identify and mitigate quality risks.
• Ensure effective application of DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessments, and lessons learned methodologies.
• Develop and oversee product verification, validation, and qualification activities based on product risk and customer requirements.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and ensure manufacturing readiness prior to production launch.
• Establish and maintain First Article Inspection (FAI) and first-build control processes for new and modified products.
• Ensure critical product characteristics and testing requirements are translated into appropriate manufacturing controls.
• Develop manufacturing quality systems focused on process control, defect prevention, and quality at the source.
• Implement and manage control plans, process validation activities, test controls, standard work verification, and error-proofing initiatives.
• Monitor and improve key quality metrics including First Pass Yield (FPY), defect rates, rework, scrap, warranty costs, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Establish a closed-loop field quality process connecting customer feedback, service operations, engineering, manufacturing, and product management.
• Analyze field failures, warranty issues, and customer complaints to identify trends and drive corrective actions.
• Lead structured root cause investigations using RCA, 8D, CAPA, and other problem-solving methodologies.
• Drive permanent corrective and preventive actions that eliminate recurring product, process, and supplier issues.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Sourcing teams to improve supplier performance and resolve component-related quality issues.
• Review product and process changes to ensure quality risks are properly assessed and controlled.
• Exercise quality authority to place products on hold, require containment actions, and challenge product release when quality requirements have not been met.
• Develop and mentor Quality Engineers, Technicians, and other quality professionals.
• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Provide technical leadership and influence across Engineering, Operations, Service, and Supply Chain organizations.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline is preferred, with equivalent directly relevant experience considered where appropriate.
• 8+ yearsprogressive Quality/Engineering experience, with meaningful leadership responsibility.
• Strong experience withelectromechanical or engineered products, not solely commodity/process manufacturing.
• Demonstrated hands-on capability inRCA/8D, FMEA, validation/verification, NPI, manufacturing Quality and process controls.
• Experience working directly withEngineering/R&Don technical product problems.
• Evidence of solvingrecurring product or field failures, not simply processing complaints.
• Ability to interpret manufacturing and field/service data and turn it into prioritized technical improvement.
• Experience leading Quality Engineers/Technicians or comparable technical teams.
• Working knowledge ofISO 9001/QMS principles, engineering change control and nonconformance/CAPA systems.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with several of: DFMEA/PFMEA, APQP/PPAP concepts, FAI, control plans, SPC, MSA, Cp/Cpk, reliability engineering, DOE, validation protocols, configuration/change control, supplier development, field failure analysis, warranty analysis
• ASQ CQE, CMQ/OE, Lean Six Sigma or equivalent credentials are beneficial but secondary to demonstrated capability.

Technical Skills

• Quality Engineering and Product Quality Management
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 8D, and CAPA
• DFMEA, PFMEA, and Risk Management
• New Product Introduction (NPI) and Validation
• Manufacturing Quality and Process Controls
• Supplier Quality Management
• Reliability and Field Failure Analysis
• Statistical Analysis and Data-Driven Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Leadership and Collaboration
• Team Development and Coaching
• Strategic Problem Solving
• Change Management and Organizational Influence

Professional Skills

• Strong Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
• Effective Communication and Presentation Skills
• Project and Program Management
• Customer-Focused Approach
• Results-Oriented Decision Making

Supervisory Responsibilities

Yes

Travel

Periodic travel to other locations for meetings

Office Setting

• Choice of sitting or standing or alternating between them (stand-up desk optional)
• Keyboarding/typing on a computer for extended periods of time
• Moderate noise, i.e., phones, printers, light foot traffic

Ranpak is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. Ranpak does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. Ranpak makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. For more information, we invite you to read our Code of Ethics .

Ranpak participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program here.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.