Quality Leader

Director of Quality

Auburn Hills, MI

Onsite

Full-Time | Direct Hire

Salary: $170,000 annually

Reliance One, Inc. is seeking an experienced Director of Quality to provide strategic and operational leadership for all quality functions within a high-volume manufacturing environment. This leadership role is responsible for driving quality excellence across the organization by developing quality strategies, strengthening manufacturing processes, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering exceptional customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will bring extensive automotive manufacturing experience, a strong background in quality systems and continuous improvement, and a proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

• Provide strategic leadership for all quality operations, including Quality Engineering, Quality Systems, Warranty, and Customer Quality.
• Develop departmental goals, performance metrics, and continuous improvement strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop quality professionals while fostering accountability, technical growth, and succession planning.
• Serve as the primary customer contact for quality issues, ensuring timely containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and long-term resolution.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and internal standards.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management to support new product launches, APQP activities, manufacturing readiness, and production validation.
• Oversee quality planning activities including PFMEA, Control Plans, PPAP submissions, inspection strategies, capability studies, and launch documentation.
• Manage departmental budgets, capital expenditures, project timelines, and resource allocation while driving cost-of-quality improvements.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving initiatives utilizing tools such as 8D, DMAIC, 5 Why, Fishbone, SPC, MSA, and statistical analysis.
• Evaluate supplier and internal manufacturing performance, implementing corrective actions to improve product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Identify opportunities to implement new quality technologies, inspection methods, automation, and best practices.
• Promote Lean Manufacturing principles and data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance and reduce variation.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of automotive quality methodologies, including:
• APQP
• PPAP
• PFMEA
• Control Plans
• MSA
• SPC
• Structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience leading customer quality initiatives, warranty performance, and corrective action programs.
• Proven ability to build, mentor, and lead high-performing quality organizations.
• Experience implementing and maintaining IATF 16949 Quality Management Systems.
• Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting new product launches from development through production.
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to leverage quality metrics to drive continuous improvement.

• Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.
• ASQ certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or similar.
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
• Expertise in supplier quality management and advanced manufacturing quality systems.
• Experience implementing quality automation and digital quality technologies.

Reliance One, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.