Quality Engineer

Location: Kearney, Nebraska
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Quality / Operations
Reports To: Quality Manager

Position Summary

The Quality Engineer supports a high‑performance manufacturing environment by improving product quality, process capability, and compliance across a wide range of product lines. This role ensures that precision components and assemblies meet engineering specifications and customer requirements. The engineer collaborates with production, engineering, supply chain, and maintenance teams to resolve issues, reduce scrap, and drive long‑term improvement at the Kearney, Nebraska facility.

A key part of this role is the ability to excel in a high‑SKU‑count manufacturing environment, where product variation, engineering changes, and rapid changeovers require strong discipline, accuracy, and robust quality systems.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Maintain and improve the site Quality Management System (QMS) to meet ISO 9001, AS9100, and customer-specific requirements.
• Conduct internal audits and lead corrective‑action teams to ensure regulatory and procedural compliance.
• Develop and maintain PFMEAs, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and other critical documentation.

High SKU Count Manufacturing Environment

• Manage quality processes across a large and diverse SKU portfolio, ensuring consistency and accuracy across hundreds of unique part numbers.
• Adapt quickly to frequent product changeovers, engineering updates, and customer-driven revisions.
• Maintain tight process control and documentation discipline in low‑repeat, high‑variation operations.
• Create inspection methods, gauges, fixtures, and acceptance criteria that scale effectively across many SKUs.
• Lead initiatives that reduce errors, improve traceability, and strengthen process capability in high‑SKU environments.

Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action

• Lead structured problem‑solving using 8D, 5‑Why, Ishikawa, DMAIC, and similar methods.
• Implement containment, corrective, and preventive actions to address recurring issues.
• Support disposition of nonconforming material and provide clear rework/repair guidance.

Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Track and analyze key quality metrics (PPM, Cp/Cpk, scrap, FPY, warranty trends).
• Identify trends and improvement opportunities using data‑driven approaches.
• Lead continuous‑improvement projects using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Act as a technical resource for customer inquiries, complaints, and audits.
• Review PPAPs, verify supplier capability, and conduct supplier process audits.
• Manage supplier corrective actions and maintain supplier quality performance data.

Production & Engineering Support

• Support new product introduction (NPI) with process validation, capability studies, and qualification testing.
• Provide training to production teams on quality requirements, defect recognition, and documentation.
• Collaborate with engineering on design reviews, drawing changes, and manufacturability improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Electrical, or related Engineering field.
• 2-5+ years of quality engineering or manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience working in high‑SKU‑count or high‑variation manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 / AS9100 QMS frameworks.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and documentation practices.
• Proficiency in FMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP, and root‑cause tools.
• ERP/MES experience preferred.
• CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Excellent communication across cross‑functional teams
• Ability to influence decisions without direct authority
• Attention to detail and strong documentation discipline
• Hands‑on, floor‑focused approach to manufacturing quality