Advanced Quality Engineer

Trane Italia • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The SBU Advanced Quality Engineer (AQE) supports both Thermo King and Trane Residential by driving supplier quality performance, strengthening supplier capability, and ensuring manufacturing readiness for new and existing products. The role leads suppliers through Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and supplier governance processes aligned with Thermo King and Trane Technologies standards. Working closely with suppliers, plant teams, Thermo King, and Trane Residential program teams, the AQE improves upstream quality, reduces defects and warranty exposure, and supports flawless product launches across both business units. A critical part of this role is ensuring Manufacturing Readiness by supporting the Manufacturing Readiness Tracker (MRT), evaluating supplier and plant readiness, identifying risks, and driving closure actions to meet launch timing, reliability expectations, and quality goals across Thermo King and Trane Residential product lines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering or related field; electrical experience is a plus.
• ASQ CQE (or equivalent), Six Sigma Green Belt (Black Belt preferred) strongly preferred.
• 8+ years in advanced or supplier quality engineering in a Lean/QMS‑focused manufacturing environment.
• Strong proficiency with APQP, PPAP, SPC, QMS, LSS, GD&T, tooling concepts, metrology, and operations excellence.
• Strong interpersonal, mentoring, and collaborative leadership skills.
• Ability to travel up to 30% within the Americas region.

Responsibilities

• Provides Supplier with technical oversight and expertise in areas such as Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP methodology), Process Development, PFMEA, Measurement Systems, Control Plans and Error Proofing.
• Supports AQP reviews with Suppliers which include Design Specification, Pass Thru identification, Safe Launch Control, Launch Readiness and Run @ Rate.
• Validate that Critical To Quality features / Key Product Characteristics have been defined.
• Conduct technical drawing review with supplier to ensure supplier understands all the requirements on the drawings Utilization of APQP std. work.
• Supports and conducts component risk assessment that defines responsible quality roles in prototype qualification and PPAP level for any components that may require upfront investment (tooling, long lead time, etc.)
• Create PSW based upon risk assessment.
• Monitors suppliers' performance and adherence to the Global Supplier Quality Manual.
• Supports on-time PPAP and Flawless Launch for responsible components.
• Assists Incoming/Inline Inspection practices based upon supplier performance.
• Drives process and systemic quality improvements through the use of quality tools (SPC, Lean, Six Sigma) and validates improvements through defined measurables to reduce quality non-conformances.
• Support and monitor assigned suppliers “SCAR” status and works with suppliers and plant SQE to minimize quality impact to our operations and end Customer.
• Acts as a quality subject matter expert, working in conjunction with Plant SQE/AQE and Suppliers in 8D problem solving.
• Support Major Quality Disruptions investigations utilizing standard work tools such as Controlled Shipping, SCAR, and Warranty/MQD recovery process.
• Performs advanced analysis (Quality Systems, DPPM, NCM) to determine trends along with proposed actions to drive performance improvement on new product launches and ongoing changes.
• Leads training of internal staff along with other functions on Advanced Quality/Supplier Quality governance strategy, policy, procedures and work instructions.
• Works to actively deploy TK/TT’s defined Supplier Development Procedures, Processes and work instructions within the region.
• May lead process and procedures review along with continuous improvement actions.
• Develop and ensure that program goals including quality and reliability are met in compliance with specifications and standard work.
• Identify gaps and create closure plan for quality and reliability targets
• Lead teams/projects related to compliant investigation, FRACAS and CAR (especially systems root cause and corrective action), cost reduction, and quality system excellence.
• Use of TQM tools including six sigma methods as required.
• Support SPDCR/SDR process and manage change with the supply base and TK facilities
• Support and deploy Manufacturing Readiness Tracker per BOS.
• Support initiatives to drive competency and development of resources as it pertains to MRT.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Holistic wellness programs with generous incentives
• Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• 401K match up to 6%, plus an additional 2% core contribution
• 15 vacation days
• 9 paid holidays
• 3 floating holidays
• Sick leave
• Additional options to support volunteer and parental leave.
• Educational and training opportunities through company programs
• Tuition assistance
• Student debt support.

What This Job Offers

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