Quality Manager

Genuine Search Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Genuine Search Group seeks a hands-on Quality Manager to lead our site quality department through a period of extensive operational transformation in a high-mix metal fabrication and machining environment. This role requires building a robust QMS from the ground up and driving change across processes and teams.

You will mentor and manage a team of 10 engineers, inspectors, and technicians, ensuring alignment between quality standards and throughput goals while stabilizing operations during plant

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality engineering or management experience in metal manufacturing (custom, structural, or precision)
• Minimum 3–5 years supervising a team of 6–10 inspectors/technicians/engineers
• Extensive ISO 9001/AS9100/IATF 16949 experience with Lead Auditor strong plus
• Demonstrated mastery of structured problem solving (8D, Ishikawa, 5-Why, DMAIC) and core QA tools (PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA/Gage R&R)
• Proficient with GD&T (ASME Y14.5), reading complex schematics, CMM reports, and welding codes (AWS D1.1/D1.2)
• Track record of driving turnarounds, plant expansions, system migrations, or rapid organizational change

Responsibilities

• Directly lead and develop a 10-person quality team across inspection, testing, and compliance
• Shift culture from reactive defect catching to proactive process capability and accountability
• Oversee weld, sheet metal forming, CNC machining, NDE/NDT, FAI, and audit protocols
• Own CAPA/CAR processes and drive 8D/5-Why to prevent recurrence and report KPIs like FPY, COPQ, scrap, and returns

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

GD&T

Problem solving

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a resilient, operationally grounded Quality Manager to lead our site quality department through a period of extensive operational transformation. Operating in a high-mix metal fabrication and machining environment, this facility is modernizing workflows, scaling output, and overhauling core systems.

This role is not a hands-off, desk-bound audit position. We need a hands-on leader who thrives in high-velocity, shifting environments, stays composed under pressure, and knows how to build consensus between quality standards and throughput goals. You will lead, mentor, and professionalize a team of 10 engineers, inspectors, and technicians while establishing structured, sustainable Quality Management Systems (QMS) from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Directly lead, schedule, and develop a 10-person quality team across inspection, testing, and compliance.
• Shift the organizational culture from reactive defect-catching to proactive process capability, operator accountability, and root-cause prevention.
• Coach technicians and inspectors on modern inspection techniques, blueprint interpretation, GD&T, and structured problem-solving.
• Champion change management across the facility, maintaining team morale, operational cadence, and accountability during plant reorganizations and process shifts.

Fabrication Quality & Floor Operations

• Serve as the technical authority on weld standards (AWS/CWB), sheet metal forming, heavy fabrication tolerances, structural assemblies, and CNC machining quality.
• Oversee non-destructive examination (NDE/NDT), dimensional verification, first-article inspections (FAI), and receiving/in-process/final audit protocols.
• Partner closely with Production, Tooling, and Manufacturing Engineering to triage real-time floor discrepancies without causing unnecessary downtime.

Quality Management Systems (QMS) & Compliance

• Evaluate, overhaul, and maintain the plant’s Quality Management System (ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949 as applicable).
• Standardize internal audit schedules, document control, calibration systems, and management review procedures.
• Manage customer and third-party registrar audits, acting as the primary point of contact for quality escalations.
• Own the internal and external CAPA/CAR process, driving rigorous 8D/5-Why methodologies to prevent recurrence.
• Establish, track, and report actionable site KPIs: Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), scrap rate, first-pass yield (FPY), rework hours, and customer return rates (PPM).
• Collaborate with Engineering to optimize weld procedures (WPS/PQR), tooling fixtures, and incoming raw material inspections (plate, sheet, bar, forgings).

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years of quality engineering or management experience in custom, structural, or precision metal manufacturing (e.g., cutting, forming, stamping, heavy weldments, tube/pipe, or precision machining).
• Minimum 3-5 years of direct supervisory experience managing a team of at least 6-10 inspectors, technicians, or engineers in an active manufacturing plant.
• Comprehensive experience building, auditing, or managing ISO 9001, AS9100, or IATF 16949 certified systems. Lead Auditor certification is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated mastery of structured problem-solving frameworks (8D, Ishikawa/Fishbone, 5-Why, DMAIC) and core quality tools (PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA/Gage R&R).
• Proficient with GD&T (ASME Y14.5), reading complex engineering schematics, CMM reports, and standard welding codes (AWS D1.1/D1.2 or equivalent).
• Proven track record of managing turnarounds, plant expansions, system migrations, or rapid organizational change with high composure and sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline (equivalent extensive shop-floor experience considered).
• Certifications: ASQ-CQM/OE, ASQ-CQE, or Lean/Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
• Hands-on familiarity with weld inspection certifications (e.g., AWS CWI or familiarity with visual/dye-penetrant/magnetic particle testing standards).