Senior Quality Engineer

Gilder Search Group; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group in the South Bend, IN area is seeking a hands-on Quality Engineer to drive product quality, process improvement, and continuous improvement across operations on the shop floor. This role requires close collaboration with production and engineering teams to implement sustainable solutions.

The position emphasizes on-floor problem solving, data-driven decisions, and involvement with Kaizen and Six Sigma initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Experience with root-cause analysis and corrective actions in a production setting.
• Comfortable working on the shop floor and collaborating with production and engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Investigate manufacturing and quality issues on the shop floor and drive resolution.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis using A3, 5 Whys, 8D, and fishbone methods.
• Collect and interpret quality data to identify trends and improvements.
• Develop and maintain quality and inspection plans, control plans, procedures, and work instructions.
• Interpret drawings, specs, statements of work, and contract requirements.
• Support product testing, first article, in-process, and final inspections.
• Manage nonconformance investigations, containment, corrective actions, and verify effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering on process improvements and new product introduction.
• Support PPAP/APQP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA, and capability studies as applicable.
• Monitor quality metrics and participate in internal and supplier audits.

Skills

Root-cause analysis

Data analysis

On-floor presence

Process improvement

Quality systems

Documentation writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quality/Manufacturing/Engineering

Tools

Metrology basics

Gage calibration

APQP/PPAP familiarity

Job description

Quality Engineer

Location: South Bend, IN Area
Position Type: Full-Time | Salaried
Work Environment: Manufacturing / Office

Position Overview

A growing manufacturing organization in the South Bend area is seeking a hands-on Quality Engineer to help drive product quality, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives across its operations.

This is not a desk-only quality role. The Quality Engineer will spend significant time on the manufacturing floor investigating problems, analyzing data, partnering with production and engineering teams, and implementing sustainable solutions.

The organization is increasing its focus on Kaizen, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making. This individual will have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by identifying recurring issues, determining true root causes, and developing processes that prevent problems from recurring.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate manufacturing and quality issues directly on the shop floor and drive problems through resolution.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis and corrective-action efforts using tools such as A3, 5 Whys, 8D, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, and other problem-solving methodologies.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing and quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain quality plans, inspection plans, control plans, work instructions, test procedures, checklists, and acceptance criteria.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, statements of work, and customer/government contract requirements.
• Translate technical requirements into practical manufacturing, inspection, and testing procedures.
• Support product testing, validation, first article, in-process, final, and customer acceptance inspections.
• Manage and support nonconformance investigations, containment activities, corrective actions, and verification of corrective-action effectiveness.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering on process improvements, new product introduction, mistake-proofing, change control, and manufacturability improvements.
• Support PPAP/APQP, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, MSA, capability studies, and other risk-based quality activities, as applicable.
• Monitor quality metrics including first-pass yield, scrap, rework, defects, customer concerns, and corrective-action trends.
• Support internal, customer, supplier, and quality-system audits.
• Assist with supplier-quality issues, supplier corrective actions, and supplier development as needed.
• Help establish stronger documentation, testing, traceability, and process controls as the organization continues to develop its quality systems.
• Work closely with production employees to reinforce quality expectations and build a culture of continuous improvement.

These responsibilities combine the company's formal emphasis on quality planning, contract/specification interpretation, structured problem solving, inspections, statistical methods, audits, supplier quality, and hands‑on production support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred; equivalent directly relevant education and experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, prints, and technical specifications.
• Ability to review customer and government contracts and identify applicable product, testing, and quality requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with root‑cause analysis, corrective action, process controls, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to identify trends and drive decisions.
• Comfortable working directly with production employees and spending significant time on the manufacturing floor.
• Ability to determine whether quality concerns are related to product, process, equipment, testing, or workmanship.
• Working knowledge of quality‑management systems and disciplined document control.
• Familiarity with basic metrology, inspection equipment, calibration, and measurement‑system principles.
• Strong technical‑writing, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities and respond effectively to time‑sensitive manufacturing or customer issues.

The degree, experience, print‑reading, government‑contract, metrology, quality‑system, and communication requirements align with the formal position requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification; Black Belt is highly desirable.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement.
• ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001 experience.
• AS9100 knowledge or experience.
• GD&T.
• PPAP/APQP.
• PFMEA and control plans.
• SPC, MSA, and capability analysis.
• First Article Inspection.
• Experience interpreting government or defense‑related quality requirements.
• Supplier audit and supplier corrective‑action experience.
• CQE, CQA, or other relevant quality certification.
• Experience with mechanical systems, fluid systems, pumps, machinery, or integrated equipment.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, heavy manufacturing, fabrication, welding, or another regulated or mission‑critical manufacturing environment.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys being close to manufacturing and solving problems firsthand.

The organization is actively investing in stronger quality systems, better use of manufacturing data, and a more structured approach to continuous improvement. Rather than simply maintaining established processes, this individual will have the opportunity to help build and improve them.

The successful candidate will be someone who sees a recurring quality problem and doesn't stop at fixing the immediate defect. They will dig into the data, work with the people closest to the process, determine why the problem is occurring, and implement a sustainable solution.

The organization is also working toward future AS9100 implementation, providing an opportunity to contribute to the continued development and maturity of the quality system.