Lead Quality Engineer

Lead Quality Engineer
Middlesex, NC
Pay: $77.00 - $78.00 per hour
26-09626

Job Summary

The Lead Quality Engineer serves as a technical leader responsible for driving product and process quality performance across assigned products, processes, customers, or suppliers. This role applies quality management systems, business improvement tools, and advanced quality methodologies to prevent defects, improve customer satisfaction, reduce the cost of nonconformance, and support operational excellence. The Lead Quality Engineer provides technical guidance to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams while leading problem-solving, quality planning, risk mitigation, customer support, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with applicable customer, regulatory, and industry standards, including AS9100, ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements, and internal procedures.
• Support internal and external audits, assessments, and corrective action activities.
• Deploy APQP methodologies and support PPAP submissions and approvals.
• Establish and maintain control plans, PFMEAs, inspection methods, validation activities, and launch readiness requirements.
• Improve manufacturing process capability through SPC, mistake-proofing, and variation reduction initiatives.
• Lead investigations of customer complaints, product escapes, and returns.
• Drive containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto analysis, and other quality methodologies.
• Partner with Supplier Quality and Supply Chain teams to improve supplier performance.
• Provide technical guidance to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for quality systems, quality tools, and customer requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, process performance, and operational excellence.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, quality engineering, supplier quality, or a related technical role.
• Experience working within a regulated quality management system environment.
• Experience with quality planning, problem-solving, corrective actions, and process improvement.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, SPC, PFMEA, control plans, and process capability.
• Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and Pareto analysis.
• Ability to interpret and apply customer, regulatory, and industry quality requirements.
• Strong technical, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.

Work Experience

• Manufacturing, quality engineering, supplier quality, or related technical experience required.
• Aerospace manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience with AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 preferred.
• Experience deploying APQP and PPAP preferred.
• Experience using program management tools and advanced problem-solving methodologies preferred.

About Equiliem

Equiliem believes in empowering success. It's our job to cultivate relationships that connect people and employers in a way that is inclusive, intelligent, and allows both to thrive.

Across the U.S., leading companies in healthcare, government, engineering, manufacturing, professional services, and energy rely on us for their workforce solutions. Our recruiting and HR services include contract and direct hire staffing, Payrolling/EOR, Independent Contractor Compliance, and Managed Services.

For almost 30 years, we've helped shape our industry. Today, we continue to research, ask questions, and continuously enhance the candidate journey and client experience.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees, which includes:

• Medical Insurance
• Vision & Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k)
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Discounts & Rewards
• Payroll Payment Options

By applying, you are providing consent for Equiliem to engage with you via phone calls, AI-generated calls, AI-generated text messages, standard text messages, and/or emails to share job opportunities. Consistent with our Privacy Policy, information obtained will not be shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes. Message frequency may vary for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You may reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance.

Equiliem is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Equiliem will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [emailprotected] or (732) 238-6050.