Advanced Quality Engineer

GE Appliances • Louisville, KY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Quality Engineer (AQE) leads quality initiatives for new parts, processes, and New Product Introductions (NPI) across U.S.-based refrigeration manufacturing sites. The role ensures new equipment, processes, and product changes launch successfully and transition to plants with sustainable, long-term ownership. Serving as a technical resource, the AQE applies engineering, manufacturing quality, and refrigeration assembly knowledge to solve complex problems independently and uses data-driven analysis to improve process capability and manufacturing quality.

The role primarily supports plant operations in Decatur, Alabama, with additional support for Louisville, Kentucky, and Selmer, Tennessee. The position may be based in Alabama or Kentucky. It is primarily first shift, though off-shift and weekend support may be required. Up to 25% domestic and international travel may be required for supplier equipment runoffs. Work takes place in a high-volume manufacturing environment and requires safety glasses, hearing protection, and frequent walking throughout the plant.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or another related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in quality engineering or a similar capacity; appliance-industry experience is preferred.
• Leadership and effective communication experience defining, designing, implementing, and troubleshooting manufacturing processes.
• Self-starter and influencer who is metric-driven and willing to work with cross-functional teams and hourly workforce.
• Excellent project tracking and detailed planning skills.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong communication skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Experience interpreting data to solve manufacturing problems.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate of a GE Appliances development program such as SCDP, AEDP, or similar.
• Familiarity with GE Appliances refrigeration operations, including DPO, MRO, or AP5.
• Experience using, programming, and interpreting CMM, 3D scanning, and other metrology systems.
• Strong background in Lean process improvement in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher certification; Minitab proficiency preferred.
• Experience with metrology and measurement systems, including PolyWorks.

Responsibilities

• Lead new equipment qualification activities and serve as the process quality expert for assigned equipment, parts, and manufacturing processes.
• Travel to supplier and manufacturing sites for planning meetings, equipment runoffs, and significant production trials.
• Review equipment qualification results and obtain leadership approval before equipment shipment from suppliers.
• Develop and execute equipment qualification plans with Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) and equipment suppliers.
• Lead production gage development, including specification, design review, cross-functional communication, and final buyoff.
• Facilitate gage kickoff meetings with AME, plant quality engineers, design engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Use CMM, 3D scanning, hand gages, and other metrology tools to measure, analyze, and validate parts.
• Lead dimensional analysis reviews for new equipment and align corrective actions and next steps with design engineering and leadership.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to implement new parts, products, and processes that remain sustainable and supported after launch.
• Liaise between product design and manufacturing to address issues early and minimize disruption during launches.
• Drive Cost of Quality improvements, including scrap reduction, yield improvement, concessions, damage reduction, and service call prevention.
• Provide technical leadership in investigating, developing, procuring, and implementing manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Lead cross-functional PFMEA activities for new parts and process changes and ensure mitigation actions are completed before launch.
• Partner with team leaders to develop job instructions, define critical process requirements, and establish standard work and Manufacturing Control Instructions (MCIs).
• Execute drive, strip, and torque studies on new joints to validate torque capability and process robustness.
• Own QMS documentation for implemented changes, including Manufacturing Control Plans (MCPs), forms, and MCIs, ensuring compliance with applicable ISO standards.
• Qualify in-house equipment with minimal direction and ensure it is ready for production use.
• Interpret GEA technical drawings, including MBD, GD&T, and linear dimensions, and align quality plans with drawing requirements.
• Perform part scanning, CMM analysis, and caliper measurements as needed.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements developed with a leader to balance individual, team, and organizational needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level