Customer Quality Engineer

Position Overview

The Customer Quality Engineer will support manufacturing operations by driving product quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role serves as a key connection between customers and internal teams, helping identify and resolve quality concerns while ensuring products and processes consistently meet established requirements.

The position will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, and Operations to investigate issues, implement corrective actions, support new product introductions, and improve overall process performance. The ideal candidate will have experience in a manufacturing environment, strong problem-solving abilities, and a solid understanding of automotive or industrial quality systems and methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a safe, compliant, and quality-focused work environment while following all applicable company policies and procedures.
• Serve as a primary quality contact for customers, responding to concerns and coordinating internal resources to resolve issues effectively.
• Lead investigations into customer-reported quality concerns, including root cause analysis, corrective action development, and verification of permanent solutions.
• Coordinate containment, inspection, sorting, and other short-term corrective measures when quality issues affect customers or production.
• Support new product and process launches by coordinating quality requirements, documentation, validation activities, and customer deliverables.
• Assist with production readiness and early-production quality initiatives designed to identify and prevent potential issues before they reach the customer.
• Monitor customer quality performance and follow up on issues through applicable customer systems, scorecards, and communication channels.
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to identify opportunities for improving products, processes, equipment, and overall quality performance.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving activities and promote consistent use of structured quality methodologies.
• Investigate internal and external quality issues, identify root causes, and implement actions designed to prevent recurrence.
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement projects focused on quality, efficiency, waste reduction, or process reliability.
• Support Engineering with qualification and validation activities for new components, processes, tooling, and equipment through data collection and analysis.
• Conduct product and process audits to verify compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and applicable quality-system expectations.
• Participate in the evaluation and disposition of nonconforming material.
• Support customer-specific quality requirements, including product planning, process documentation, control methods, and work instructions.
• Provide training and guidance to production and other employees regarding quality expectations, problem-solving techniques, and customer requirements.
• Maintain appropriate quality documentation and ensure activities are completed in accordance with applicable company and customer standards.
• Perform additional duties and quality-related projects as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience working directly with customers in a quality, engineering, manufacturing, or technical environment.
• Strong knowledge of structured problem-solving techniques such as 8D, 5 Why, Six Sigma, or other root-cause methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate complex quality concerns, analyze data, and develop practical corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of recognized manufacturing quality-management systems and standards, such as ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949.
• Familiarity with commonly used manufacturing quality tools, including SPC, APQP, FMEA, MSA, Control Plans, and PPAP.
• Understanding of manufacturing and assembly processes, including production equipment, tooling, inspection methods, and process controls.
• Experience using statistical analysis and quality software such as Minitab or comparable applications.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and customer requirements in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Detail-oriented approach with a high level of accuracy and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated professionalism, accountability, integrity, and sound judgment.
• Experience developing or improving processes that produce better outcomes for customers and internal teams.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing/quality experience will be considered.