Quality Engineering Team Lead

Hydro-Gear; Sullivan (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hydro-Gear, a world leader in precision drive solutions, seeks a Customer Quality Engineering Team Lead to drive customer satisfaction and product quality across manufacturing operations in Sullivan, IL. You will own the voice of the customer and lead quality initiatives with cross-functional teams to deliver continuous improvement.

The role leads a Quality Engineering team, coaching and performing root cause investigations and effective corrective actions to strengthen customer relationships

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical discipline preferred.
• 4+ years of quality assurance, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems preferred.
• Experience with root cause analysis, corrective actions, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing processes; GD&T experience preferred.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and customer relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer quality initiatives and improve customer satisfaction.
• Oversee root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Partner across Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Service to deliver improvement.
• Develop and mentor the Quality Engineering team.
• Manage customer complaints and returns.
• Analyze quality and field performance data to identify trends and drive improvements.

Skills

Quality engineering

Leadership

Root cause analysis

Customer relations

ISO 9001

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Job description

Brief Description
Few roles offer the opportunity to directly influence customer satisfaction, product quality, and business performance. We're seeking a leader who can turn customer feedback into action, drive continuous improvement, and build a culture where quality drives success.

• Please note, we are not able to consider candidates who currently or in the future will require visa sponsorship.

Brief Description

• Please note, we are not able to consider candidates who currently or in the future will require visa sponsorship.

Hydro-Gear is a world leader in the design and production of precision drive solutions, serving multiple industries and delivering to customers worldwide. Our passions are innovation, quality, and a commitment to making our customers successful—and we are positioned for continued growth. Learn more about us at Hydro-Gear.com. We are seeking a Customer Quality Engineering Team Lead to lead customer quality initiatives, strengthen customer relationships, and drive continuous improvement across our manufacturing operations.

Job Type: Full-time, onsite located in Sullivan IL

Salary: Commensurate with experience (includes base salary plus eligibility for a biannual bonus) Note: the salary range displayed in the link reflects base salary only

Benefits: Link for Benefits and Pay Range or copy the following in a browser https://www.hydro-gear.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Customer-Quality-Engineering-Team-Lead-.pdf

The Role: As the Customer Quality Engineering Team Lead, you will serve as the voice of the customer while leading quality initiatives that improve customer satisfaction, product performance, and business results. You'll oversee customer quality activities, drive root cause investigations and corrective actions, and partner across the organization to deliver continuous improvement.

Key Focus Areas Include

• Leading Customer Quality Performance
• Developing and Mentoring the Quality Engineering Team
• Driving Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Actions
• Managing Customer Complaints and Returns
• Building Strong Cross-Functional Partnerships

Profile For Success

• Champions continuous improvement and drives results.
• Creates urgency around customer satisfaction and quality performance.
• Leads with accountability, collaboration, and integrity.
• Builds disciplined, high-performing teams.
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization.

What You Can Expect

• Lead and develop a team of Quality Engineers, providing coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance.
• Lead customer quality excellence as the primary point of contact for all external quality issues, ensuring responsive issue resolution, effective corrective actions, and outstanding customer satisfaction.
• Analyze quality, warranty, and field performance data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Service teams to improve product quality, customer satisfaction, and business results.

Why Join Hydro-Gear?

• Work in a culture that values accountability, teamwork, and professional growth.
• Join an organization that is committed to investing in its people, processes, and long-term success.
• Influence key quality initiatives and continuous improvement efforts across the business.

If you're ready to join a successful team to lead quality initiatives, develop high-performing teams, and make a lasting impact on customer satisfaction for an industry leader, we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical discipline preferred.
• 4+ years of quality assurance, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems preferred.
• Experience with root cause analysis, corrective actions, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing processes; GD&T experience preferred.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and customer relationship management skills.