APQP Quality Engineer

Astemo Indiana•Findlay, OH

10d

About The Position

The APQP Quality Engineer leads quality planning and associated APQP activities for assigned programs, from feasibility through launch stabilization and handoff to serial-production Quality. The role represents Quality on cross-functional program teams, owns and tracks Quality-function APQP deliverables, monitors milestones and risks, and communicates status through site launch-governance processes. It ensures compliance with AIAG APQP methodology, IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and applicable corporate quality standards. The position facilitates risk assessment and quality planning, including DFMEA reviews and development and maintenance of Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, and Control Plans. It coordinates PPAP preparation, process validation, production trials, capability and measurement-system studies, Run-at-Rate, and customer approvals. The engineer verifies that production controls and quality documentation are implemented and effective before SOP, and serves as the primary Quality contact for assigned launch programs. For transferred business, the role develops quality-validation plans and maintains objective evidence and readiness status. It drives closure or escalation of launch issues and leads the formal quality handoff to serial production after stabilization criteria are achieved. The engineer also collaborates with Supplier Quality and Purchasing on supplier APQP readiness, supports audits and continuous improvement, facilitates reviews, coaches teams on quality tools, and contributes to management and launch-readiness reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing-quality experience.
Five or more years of automotive quality, APQP, launch-quality, or manufacturing-engineering experience, including direct involvement with customer launches and production approval.
Strong working knowledge of AIAG APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans, IATF 16949, and customer-specific requirements.
Experience with process validation, capability studies, measurement systems, manufacturing launches, transferred processes, and customer approval activities.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional activities, manage multiple program deliverables, communicate risk, and escalate readiness concerns using objective evidence.
Strong project management, communication, leadership, analytical, and structured problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and applicable quality, customer-portal, and data-analysis systems.

Nice To Haves

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), AIAG Core Tools training, or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Lead the quality workstream and APQP activities for assigned programs from feasibility through launch stabilization and handoff to serial-production Quality.
Represent Quality on cross-functional program teams and participate in feasibility, launch, customer, and gate reviews.
Own and track Quality-function APQP deliverables and coordinate cross-functional inputs for timely completion.
Monitor quality milestones, deliverables, and risks; communicate status through site launch governance; and escalate issues that may affect customer approval or production readiness.
Ensure compliance with AIAG APQP methodology, IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, and applicable corporate quality standards.
Facilitate DFMEA reviews with Engineering and lead development and maintenance of Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, and Control Plans.
Ensure alignment among process flows, PFMEAs, Control Plans, inspection standards, work instructions, Safe Launch plans, and production controls.
Identify, quantify, and mitigate product and process risks before production release, using lessons learned, customer concerns, warranty information, and manufacturing experience.
Coordinate special characteristics, error-proofing, prevention controls, reaction plans, SPC requirements, and applicable AIAG Core Tool activities.
Lead PPAP preparation, submission, and customer approval activities, including dimensional results, material certifications, capability studies, MSA, PFMEA, Control Plans, and PSW documentation.
Coordinate manufacturing process validation, production trials, equipment qualification support, capability studies, measurement-system analysis, Run-at-Rate, and customer validation requirements.
Verify that process controls, gaging, inspection methods, traceability, error-proofing, reaction plans, and quality documentation are implemented and effective before SOP.
Serve as the primary Quality contact for assigned launch programs and coordinate responses to customer quality concerns, audits, readiness assessments, and open quality actions during development and launch.
Develop quality-validation plans for transferred products, tooling, equipment, and manufacturing processes, including baseline comparison, measurement correlation, capability confirmation, requalification, PPAP requirements, and production-release criteria.
Maintain objective evidence and Red/Amber/Green status for APQP completion, PPAP approval, capability, measurement-system readiness, Control Plan implementation, Safe Launch, customer approvals, and open quality risks.
Drive closure or formal escalation of quality-related launch issues before customer or production release.
Lead the formal quality handoff to serial production after stabilization criteria are achieved, including PPAP approval, capability confirmation, Safe Launch exit, open-issue transfer, lessons learned, and acceptance by the responsible operational Quality Engineer.
Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Purchasing to confirm supplier APQP, PPAP, capacity, and launch-readiness activities support customer and program milestones.
Review supplier PPAP and readiness status for integration into the overall product and process approval package; Supplier Quality retains direct supplier-development and corrective-action ownership.
Participate in supplier risk assessments, process reviews, and escalation activities for critical launch components.
Apply launch lessons learned, customer feedback, warranty performance, and manufacturing challenges to improve future APQP and quality-planning activities.
Support internal, customer, and third-party audits related to APQP and launch activities and drive timely closure of assigned findings.
Facilitate quality-focused APQP reviews, drive accountability for assigned actions, and provide coaching on PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and customer requirements.
Support management reviews and launch-readiness reporting with concise status, risk, recovery timing, and objective evidence.