Principal Quality Engineer

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At Gentex Corporation, we’ve created an environment where great ideas and great people can thrive. Leveraging a history that spans over 130 years, Gentex is a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel operating in high performance environments. Join our multinational team of exceptional and dedicated employees around the world and work on challenging and rewarding projects, grow your skills, and advance your career all while making a positive difference in the lives of our customers.

Together, you and Gentex can build a career that’s uniquely yours.

The purpose of the Principal Quality Engineer is to develop, document, and train quality methodologies and analytical techniques to monitor the performance of Gentex product, purchased goods, and processes, and to focus on continual improvement efforts associated with each. Additionally, the Principal QE shall lead efforts for sustainment and improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) as required by ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 standards.

Leads and Coordinates activities of inspectors.

Responsible to oversee the inspection workflow at our Rancho facilities. This person will also be responsible for coaching, resolving issues and serving as a link between subordinates and other internal departments. In addition to supporting daily production demand, the goal is to ensure that every product received to, or shipped from GENTEX meets customer P.O., Contract or internal GENTEX requirements.

Gentex offers a robust benefit package- including, but not limited to, medical coverages, 401k, paid time off and excellent work schedules including a 9/80 work week.

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering or equivalent preferred.
• B.S Electrical Engineering a plus.
• 10+ years of previous experience with quality concepts, metrics, and problem‑solving methodologies, including Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Quality, Auditing, SPC, CAPA processes, COPQ reduction and program management in a quality or manufacturing role.
• Expert use of Microsoft Office suite in the generation of professional documents and reports.
• Experience in the use of Minitab, including DOE and trend analysis.
• Lean manufacturing experience.
• Lean/6‑Sigma Green Belt trained, as a minimum, certified desired.

• Manage, mentor, and lead all quality technical resources.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing personnel to ensure quality standards are in place.
• Develop, establish, and maintain quality engineering methodologies systems and practices which meet Gentex customer and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a technical expert to improve awareness, visibility, and communication on Quality initiatives to support departmental functional site division and corporate Quality goals and priorities.
• Oversee quality engineering projects of all kinds. Handle deadlines, budgets, and various other managerial tasks.
• Design, implement and evaluate quality assurance processes and sampling techniques, including the reporting of COPQ.
• Work with all departments to implement process improvements, increase process yields, reduce COPQ, and drive the quarterly continuous improvement meetings.
• Drive LEAN initiatives for the Quality team including incoming test and inspection plans, sampling plans and Dock‑to‑Stock/Ship‑to‑Stock activities.
• Lead APQP or Zero Defect Planning, as required.
• Support NPD and line extension qualification planning and reporting process.
• Interface with customers, internal business teams and suppliers for non‑conformance investigations and CAPAs for component rejects, finished goods failures and product returns.
• Manage product return/failure analysis process.
• Optimize the development, analysis, and utilization of QMS data to support continuous improvement efforts and measurements of QMS effectiveness for management review.
• Interface with customers and design engineering to define & document acceptance criteria for quality plans, and insure their proper execution.
• Partner with supply chain to evaluate & measure supplier…