This
working manager role is expected to move Automation Quality from inspection and reactive issue management toward engineered prevention, product reliability and closed-loop learning.
The Quality Engineering Manager, North America Automation is accountable for establishing and leading an effective quality engineering system across the North America Automation business that ensures products are designed, validated, manufactured, released and supported with demonstrated quality and reliability. The role leads prevention-focused quality engineering across product development, NPI, manufacturing, supplier interfaces, product changes and field performance. The position converts customer, service, manufacturing and engineering quality data into prioritized action and ensures significant technical failures are contained, root-caused and permanently corrected. The role is expected to move Automation Quality from inspection and reactive issue management toward engineered prevention, product reliability and closed-loop learning.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities• Partner with Engineering and Product Management throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure quality requirements and acceptance criteria are clearly defined and achieved.
• Participate in design reviews, technical reviews, and product development initiatives to identify and mitigate quality risks.
• Ensure effective application of DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessments, and lessons learned methodologies.
• Develop and oversee product verification, validation, and qualification activities based on product risk and customer requirements.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and ensure manufacturing readiness prior to production launch.
• Establish and maintain First Article Inspection (FAI) and first-build control processes for new and modified products.
• Ensure critical product characteristics and testing requirements are translated into appropriate manufacturing controls.
• Develop manufacturing quality systems focused on process control, defect prevention, and quality at the source.
• Implement and manage control plans, process validation activities, test controls, standard work verification, and error-proofing initiatives.
• Monitor and improve key quality metrics including First Pass Yield (FPY), defect rates, rework, scrap, warranty costs, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Establish a closed-loop field quality process connecting customer feedback, service operations, engineering, manufacturing, and product management.
• Analyze field failures, warranty issues, and customer complaints to identify trends and drive corrective actions.
• Lead structured root cause investigations using RCA, 8D, CAPA, and other problem-solving methodologies.
• Drive permanent corrective and preventive actions that eliminate recurring product, process, and supplier issues.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Sourcing teams to improve supplier performance and resolve component-related quality issues.
• Review product and process changes to ensure quality risks are properly assessed and controlled.
• Exercise quality authority to place products on hold, require containment actions, and challenge product release when quality requirements have not been met.
• Develop and mentor Quality Engineers, Technicians, and other quality professionals.
• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Provide technical leadership and influence across Engineering, Operations, Service, and Supply Chain organizations.
Qualifications• A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline is preferred, with equivalent directly relevant experience considered where appropriate.
• 8+ years progressive Quality/Engineering experience, with meaningful leadership responsibility.
• Strong experience with electromechanical or engineered products, not solely commodity/process manufacturing.
• Demonstrated hands-on capability in RCA/8D, FMEA, validation/verification, NPI, manufacturing Quality and process controls.
• Experience working directly with Engineering/R&D on technical product problems.
• Evidence of solving recurring product or field failures, not simply processing complaints.
• Ability to interpret manufacturing and field/service data and turn it into prioritized technical improvement.
• Experience leading Quality Engineers/Technicians or comparable technical teams.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001/QMS principles, engineering change control and nonconformance/CAPA systems.
Strongly Preferred Qualifications• Experience with several of: DFMEA/PFMEA, APQP/PPAP concepts, FAI, control plans, SPC, MSA, Cp/Cpk, reliability engineering, DOE, validation protocols, configuration/change control, supplier development, field failure analysis, warranty analysis
• ASQ CQE, CMQ/OE, Lean Six Sigma or equivalent credentials are beneficial but secondary to demonstrated capability.
Skills & CompetenciesTechnical Skills
- Quality Engineering and Product Quality Management
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 8D, and CAPA
- DFMEA, PFMEA, and Risk Management
- New Product Introduction (NPI) and Validation
- Manufacturing Quality and Process Controls
- Supplier Quality Management
- Reliability and Field Failure Analysis
- Statistical Analysis and Data-Driven Decision Making
Leadership Competencies
- Cross-Functional Leadership and Collaboration
- Team Development and Coaching
- Strategic Problem Solving
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
- Change Management and Organizational Influence
Professional Skills
- Strong Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
- Effective Communication and Presentation Skills
- Project and Program Management
- Customer-Focused Approach
- Results-Oriented Decision Making
Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes
Physical Demands and Work Environment: Travel: Periodic travel to other locations for meetingsOffice Setting
• Choice of sitting or standing or alternating between them (stand-up desk optional)
• Keyboarding/typing on a computer for extended periods of time
• Moderate noise, i.e., phones, printers, light foot traffic
