Manufacturing Quality Engineer - No Experience Required

Manufacturing Quality Engineer

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career. At MSA, safety is who we are and it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our mission to help protect people and assets all around the world.

We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers' greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day. Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities:
Now hiring a Manufacturing Quality Engineer at our Auburn, Maine manufacturing facility. In this role, you will be counted on for ensuring robust manufacturing processes and consistent product quality at the plant level. This role works closely with manufacturing, operations, and engineering to support daily production, resolve quality issues, and prevent defects through effective process control and continuous improvement. The Manufacturing Quality Engineer leads root cause analysis and corrective actions for internal and customer issues, supports supplier quality as it relates to manufacturing performance, and ensures quality readiness for new product introductions and process changes.

The role applies structured manufacturing quality tools such as PFMEA, Control Plans, APQP, PPAP, 8D, and Lean methodologies to reduce scrap, rework, and variation while improving overall production capability and customer satisfaction.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement:
Own the resolution of plant quality issues by leading structured problem-solving efforts from issue identification through verified corrective action closure. Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving activities using structured methodologies (e.g., 8D, A3, Root Cause Analysis) to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions. Serve as a subject matter expert in the application of core quality and problem-solving tools. Apply Lean methodologies (e.g., poka-yoke, Kaizen, value stream mapping) to improve manufacturing quality processes, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiency.

Monitor, analyze, and improve First Pass Yield (FPY) using SPC, process capability analysis, and data-driven interventions. Lead Stop Ship and Stop Production activities, including rapid containment, root cause investigation, and coordination of corrective actions to enable timely release. Partner with Production and Manufacturing Engineering to identify, prioritize, and implement manufacturing process improvement initiatives. Analyze quality and manufacturing data to identify trends, anticipate risks, and drive preventive actions.

Quality Management System (QMS) Compliance:
Ensure plant-level adherence to QMS standards and site procedures through effective implementation, monitoring, internal audits, and corrective action follow-up. Maintain QMS compliance through robust procedure execution, documentation control, and management of nonconformances and corrective actions. Apply risk-based thinking through PFMEAs and process reviews to identify and mitigate quality risks during production and product or process changes. Support customer, certification, and regulatory audits by preparing documentation, coordinating audit activities, and managing responses.

Drive timely and effective closure of audit findings through corrective and preventive actions. Monitor, analyze, and report QMS performance metrics (e.g., audit results, nonconformances, corrective action closure) to improve compliance and system effectiveness. Provide training on global and site-level QMS procedures, problem-solving methodologies, and quality tools to strengthen understanding, execution, and compliance across the plant.

Production Quality Support:
Support factory operations by actively monitoring production quality processes, identifying compliance gaps, and driving timely corrective actions. Create, maintain, and update Control Plans, Test Specifications (TST), and Incoming Quality Inspection Plans to ensure consistent and effective application of quality controls in…