Laboratory Quality Engineer

Continental•Sumter, SC

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring the consistent quality, compliance, and performance of all raw materials used in the Sumter plant. This role oversees supplier quality management, laboratory excellence, complaint resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position partners closely with Purchasing, R&D, SQM, PI, and plant operations to maintain a stable flow of conforming materials that support safe and efficient production.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in engineering or science field
Minimum 2 years experience in Quality Management or Customer Management

Responsibilities

Own the quality performance of all raw materials at the Sumter plant, including supplier monitoring, status reporting, and local supplier approval support.
Manage supplier complaints and lead continuous improvement efforts across all internal and external supplier quality processes, including root‑cause analysis and 8D follow‑up.
Conduct supplier audits (including VDA 6.3), maintain audit plans, and track corrective actions for local suppliers; support SQM with corporate supplier audits.
Lead and participate in raw material quality projects involving new materials, packaging, process changes, or supplier development.
Oversee chemical, compound, and reinforcement laboratory testing; ensure timely release of conforming batches to production and maintain laboratory work instructions.
Monitor laboratory and mixing KPIs, drive SPC processes, and initiate improvement activities to strengthen laboratory and material processing performance.
Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and the Continental QM Manual for Procurement.
Coordinate plant requirements for raw material logistics and packaging with R&D, SQM, and Purchasing; implement improvements in transport, documentation, communication, and COA processes.
Support plant and supplier process improvements related to raw material processability, stability, and analysis; ensure SAP usage aligns with complaint and supplier performance management requirements.
Promote ESH responsibilities by modeling safe behavior, initiating preventive actions, and responding immediately to hazards, while supporting internal/external audits and corrective actions.