Quality Engineer - Automotive Manufacturing

Location: Hybrid - Upper Midwest
Onsite Requirement: Approximately 1 week per month
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Quality Engineer to support a growing automotive manufacturing operation in the Upper Midwest. This is a highly flexible hybrid opportunity designed for a quality professional who can effectively balance quality systems and documentation work with hands-on problem solving on the manufacturing floor.

The position requires approximately one week per month onsite at the manufacturing facility, with company-paid lodging provided during onsite weeks. The remainder of the position can be performed remotely, making this an attractive opportunity for candidates throughout the broader region, including the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

The ideal candidate brings experience in automotive or a similarly demanding manufacturing environment and is equally comfortable working with quality systems, collaborating across departments, and getting onto the plant floor to identify and solve problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and maintain quality systems and documentation within an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Investigate product and process quality issues and drive effective root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Work directly with manufacturing teams on the plant floor to identify quality concerns and implement sustainable solutions.
• Partner cross-functionally with operations, engineering, manufacturing, and other departments to improve product and process quality.
• Support customer quality requirements, documentation, audits, and corrective actions.
• Analyze quality data and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality standards and procedures.
• Ensure appropriate quality controls are established and followed throughout manufacturing processes.
• Help resolve internal and external quality concerns in a timely and effective manner.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects and improving manufacturing performance.

Preferred Background

• Quality Engineering experience within automotive manufacturing or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of IATF 16949 requirements and automotive quality systems.
• Strong experience with root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and structured problem solving.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing processes.
• Exposure to processes such as welding, fabrication, metalworking, and/or paint/coating operations is beneficial.
• Experience working with major automotive OEM requirements is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both plant-floor employees and leadership.
• Ability to independently manage priorities while working in a hybrid environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related discipline is preferred, but not required with appropriate experience.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who enjoys being a hands-on Quality Engineer, not someone who wants to work exclusively behind a desk.

When onsite, this individual should be comfortable spending significant time on the manufacturing floor, working directly with production teams, investigating failures, determining root causes, and helping implement solutions.

When working remotely, the position will have a greater emphasis on quality systems, documentation, analysis, customer requirements, and cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will be technically capable, approachable, accountable, and comfortable taking ownership of quality issues from identification through resolution.

Hybrid Work Arrangement

This position offers significant geographic flexibility.

The Quality Engineer will typically be expected to work onsite at the manufacturing facility for approximately one week each month. Company-paid lodging will be provided during required onsite weeks.

The remainder of the month may be worked remotely, allowing candidates from a broader geographic area to be considered.