Quality Systems Engineer

Be yourself at Protolabs

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply! 

You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.

Why Protolabs?

We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.

It's our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.

Join our team as a Quality Systems Engineer!

This is a fixed hybrid role (onsite Tuesday-Thursyday & remote Mon/Fri) based in one of our Minnesota locations:
Plymouth, Rosemount, or Maple Plain.

Protolabs is seeking a Quality Systems Engineer to help build, scale, and continuously improve our Quality Management System (QMS) as we grow our leadership in digital manufacturing.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced quality professional who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and is excited to drive process improvement, support audits, and strengthen quality systems at scale.

You'll play a key role in ensuring compliance with global standards while partnering across the business to embed quality into day-to-day operations.

What you Will Do

Quality Management System (Core Responsibility)

* Manage, maintain, and improve the company's QMS in alignment with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, and internal procedures

* Identify gaps or conflicts between SOPs, work instructions, and regulatory requirements-then drive resolution

* Support and enhance QMS processes to enable scalability during rapid business growth

Corrective Actions & Problem Solving

* Lead and manage corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) from investigation through effectiveness verification

* Conduct root cause analysis using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone, 8D)

* Partner cross-functionally to resolve quality issues and drive sustainable solutions

Audit Management & Compliance

* Support planning, execution, and follow-up of internal, external, and customer audits

* Prepare documentation, coordinate audit activities, and ensure timely closure of findings

* Progress toward independently leading audits and audit programs

Metrics & Continuous Improvement

* Develop, track, and analyze quality metrics (e.g., CAPA cycle time, audit findings, nonconformances)

* Use data and trend analysis to assess QMS effectiveness and recommend improvements

* Drive continuous improvement initiatives across processes and systems

Cross-Functional Collaboration

* Work closely with internal stakeholders to support quality initiatives and resolve issues

* Partner with Quality team members and broader engineering/manufacturing teams

* Contribute to building a proactive, problem-solving quality culture

Additional Details

* Travel:
Occasional (audit-related; primarily local)

* Schedule:

Standard business hours

* Work Environment:
Combination of office and manufacturing floor

What it Takes

* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or related field or equivalent experience
* ~7-10+ years of experience working within a Quality Management System

* Hands-on experience with:

* ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and/or AS9100

* CAPA processes and root cause analysis

* Internal or external audits

* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

* Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

* Strong communication skills and cross-functional collaboration experience

* Self-starter with a proactive, ownership mindset

*…