Quality Manager

About the job

Manages the development, implementation, and coordination of product assurance programs to prevent or eliminate defects in new or existing products, and plans, coordinates and directs the quality assurance department to ensure production of products consistent with established standards.

You will lead quality assurance and quality control activities related to metal automotive components/parts, stamping, metal heat treatment and finishing processes, and industrial coatings, ensuring product integrity, compliance with automotive OEM and Tier 1 standards, and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate has a strong metallurgy background and hands‑on expertise.

• Analyzes, evaluates, and presents information concerning business situations, production capabilities, manufacturing problems, economic trends, and design and development of new products for consideration by management.
• Suggests alternative methods and procedures for problem solving.
• Collaborates with management to formulate and establish company policies, operating procedures and goals.
• Participates in global initiatives related to quality KPI harmonization, COPQ, Continuous Improvement program, incident management, CSR, safety, etc.
• Updates modifications of the product assurance program to delineate responsibilities, personnel requirements, and operational procedures within the IATF 16949 quality system.
• Reviews technical problems and procedures of departments and recommends solutions or changes.
• Evaluates contents of quality reports and contributes to fiscal budget formulation for the quality department.
• Work with management and quality engineers on quality planning, diagnosis of quality problems, corrective and preventive action programs, and continuous improvement.
• Identifies non‑conformance trends and develops technical investigation and corrective action programs to resolve recurring quality problems and improve vendor quality.
• Assists in customer communication, including documenting and following up on concerns.
• Prepares graphs or charts for data analysis and presentation.
• Supports program management processes of new product launches and the overall APQP process.
• Visits and consults with suppliers to obtain information on supply quality, capacity, and standards.
• Consults with quality and other engineers to rectify problems in new product design and manufacture.
• Reviews technical publications to stay abreast of industry developments.
• Manages the internal and external corrective action process for resolution of quality issues.
• Selects and acquires capital equipment/tooling to support facilities.
• Ensures appropriate staffing and training of quality personnel.

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four‑year college or university, or four years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• M.S. in Metallurgy, Materials Science, or Materials Engineering required.
• 5+ years of experience managing a quality department and its staff.
• Experience with customer portals and CSR (Customer Specific Requirements – Supplier Manuals) for Ford, GM, Stellantis, Rivian, and various tier 1 suppliers.
• ASQ CQE certification in one or more areas (CQE, CMI, CQM, CRE, etc.) would be helpful.
• Experience preparing, leading, and implementing corrective actions relating to IATF 16949 internal procedures and audits.
• Lead Auditor ISO 9001:2015 with AIAG IATF 16949:2016 preferred.
• Proficiency in quality tools: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, GD&T, SPC, Lean Six Sigma.
• Experience managing customer audits and supplier quality programs, including sustainability.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents, and to respond to inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or the public.
• Technical depth in metallurgy and coatings science.
• Root‑cause analysis and structured problem‑solving.
• Strong cross‑functional communication.
• Leadership in fast‑paced manufacturing environments.
• Customer‑focused quality mindset.