The Senior Quality & Reliability Engineer is responsible for ensuring product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction within the Final Assembly area. This position drives root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, process improvement initiatives, new product validations, and customer quality activities. The role serves as a key liaison between manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and customers to ensure compliance with quality requirements, industry standards, and business objectives.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical problem-solving skills with effective communication abilities, demonstrating leadership in resolving quality issues, improving processes, and supporting a culture of operational excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management & Problem Resolution

• Lead root cause investigations for manufacturing defects, customer complaints, process deviations, and reliability concerns.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies including 8D, 5 Why Analysis, Fishbone (Ishikawa), and other quality tools.
• Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to eliminate recurring issues.
• Support containment activities and drive timely resolution of quality concerns.
• Analyze quality data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

Customer & Supplier Quality Support

• Serve as a quality representative for customer-related issues within the Final Assembly area.
• Participate in customer calls, meetings, reviews, and quality investigations.
• Interface with suppliers and cross-functional teams to resolve quality problems and minimize business impact.
• Prepare and communicate quality reports, presentations, and corrective action responses.

New Product Introduction & Product Validation

• Support qualification, validation, and approval activities for new products and processes.
• Participate in product launch activities and manufacturing readiness assessments.
• Coordinate and support PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) submissions as required.
• Ensure product and process changes meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, productivity, cost reduction, and process efficiency.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering teams to improve process capability and reduce defects.
• Utilize data-driven methodologies to improve process performance.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives.

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain quality documentation, investigation records, action plans, and supporting reports.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, internal procedures, and applicable quality management systems.
• Participate in audits, assessments, and compliance reviews as required.
• Present quality performance updates during operational reviews and cross-functional meetings.

Safety & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Actively participate in plant safety initiatives and promote a strong safety culture.
• Identify risks and support implementation of preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to achieve business objectives.
• Support plant-wide initiatives requiring quality and reliability expertise.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline required.

Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in Quality Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, or related technical roles within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in regulated and quality-driven manufacturing industries.

Industry Background

Candidates must possess experience in at least one of the following industries:

• Automotive
• Medical Device
• Aerospace

Experience in multiple industries is highly desirable.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

Required:

• Root Cause Analysis methodologies
• 8D Problem Solving
• 5 Why Analysis
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) Methodology
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Manufacturing Process Improvement
• Statistical Analysis and Data Interpretation
• Customer Quality Management
• Quality Systems and Documentation Control
• Cross-Functional Project Coordination

Preferred:

• PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)
• APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)
• FMEA
• Control Plans
• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma methodologies
• AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, or similar quality systems

Language Requirements

English - Advanced (Required)

The candidate must be comfortable:

• Leading and participating in customer calls.
• Communicating with global teams and sister plants.
• Supporting customer visits and quality reviews.
• Preparing written technical reports and 8D responses.
• Participating in training and business discussions conducted in English.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel greater than 10% of the time.
• Travel may include visits to other manufacturing sites, customer facilities, supplier locations, and training activities.
• U.S. Visa is highly desirable.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Professional maturity and accountability.
• Sense of urgency and ownership.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Effective conflict management and collaboration.
• Customer-focused mindset.
• Adaptability and resilience.
• Results-oriented approach.