Customer Quality Engineer

Corning • Village of Fairport, NY

1d • $91,649 - $126,018

About The Position

The Customer Quality Engineer investigates and resolves complex, customer-impacting quality challenges that exceed site resources or expertise. The role combines customer and manufacturing quality, ISO 9001 knowledge, and APQP expertise to lead cross-functional problem solving, implement sustainable solutions, and establish site ownership. The engineer also identifies related risks across products, processes, equipment, materials, and sites, then deploys proven solutions to prevent recurrence across the division.

This is a travel-intensive, partnership-focused role involving regular on-site work at manufacturing plants and customer locations. The engineer works alongside site teams, building trust and helping them develop and own practical solutions rather than prescribing faults. The role may require directly conducting investigations, analyzing data, or completing documentation when site teams are stretched.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Materials Science, Operations, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in customer quality, manufacturing quality, process engineering, operational excellence, or a related technical role.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex investigations and cross-functional problem-solving teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, process capability, risk assessment, and process qualification.
• Experience applying structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, DMAIC, A3, Lean, Six Sigma, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to influence, motivate, and align teams across sites without direct authority, earning trust through credibility, follow-through, and collaboration.
• Strong facilitation, analytical, and communication skills, and comfort working with busy operations and plant teams.
• Ability to build trust and credibility quickly across diverse teams and remain persistent, resourceful, and positive under pressure.
• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal agility when working with site teams focused on daily operations and shipping product.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to manufacturing sites and customer locations (25% to 50%).
• U.S. citizenship is required; documentation of citizenship must be provided if an offer is received, to comply with government contract requirements at the location.

Nice To Haves

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• ISO 9001 internal auditor experience.
• Experience supporting customer audits, technical reviews, escalations, and corrective action communications.
• Experience in precision, optical, glass, ceramic, specialty materials, or other complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience deploying common solutions and standards across multiple manufacturing sites.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an APQP subject matter expert, strengthening practical use of process flows, PFMEAs, Control Plans, PPAP, qualification plans, reaction plans, MSA, and process capability methods.
• Lead investigations and resolutions for complex customer complaints, escalations, containment events, and recurring quality issues beyond site capability or resources.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving teams across Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Product Development, and other functions as needed.
• Identify process-control, manufacturing-system, and quality-system gaps contributing to issues, and implement practical, scalable solutions.
• Apply 8D, DMAIC, root-cause analysis, data analysis, and other structured methods to identify causes, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness.
• Guide and coach site teams toward solutions they own, using questioning, facilitation, and collaboration to build local capability and accountability.
• Conduct investigations, data analysis, or documentation directly when site teams are stretched thin.
• Identify similar products, processes, equipment, materials, and manufacturing conditions across the division that may present common risks.
• Deploy proven corrective actions, controls, and lessons learned across multiple sites when common risks or failure modes are identified.
• Document decisions, risks, evidence, ownership, and follow-up actions for site, division, and customer stakeholders.
• Build trust and long-term relationships at each site through follow-through, respect for site constraints, and commitment to helping teams succeed.

Benefits

• Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives.
• 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions.
• Matching contributions to a 401(k) savings plan; total company retirement contributions can reach between 7% and 12% of pay, depending on age and years of service.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Paid parental leave and family building support.
• Fitness benefits.
• Company-paid life insurance and disability benefits.
• Disease management programs.
• Paid time off.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Recognition program to celebrate successes and reward exceptional contributions.

What This Job Offers

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