Paint Quality Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

4d • $65,100 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Paint Quality On-Site Engineer provides dedicated technical support and guidance for paint appearance, durability, process stability, defect elimination, and quality system compliance within the Assembly Plant environment. Operating at the intersection of Plant Engineering, Quality Operations, and VME Operations, this role collaborates with Plant Variation Reduction Team (VRT) initiatives, ensures strict adherence to the Uniform Paint Process (UPP) standard, maintains rigorous execution of the Process Control Plan (PCP), drives ISO Audit Preparation Work, and leads comprehensive Internal / External Warranty Analysis across Paint Shop operations. The engineer partners with plant teams, to support First Time Through (FTT) improvements, reduce top paint defects (dirt in paint, chip & scratch), and assist with ISO and Ford QOS audit readiness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent practical experience and demonstrated technical qualification.
• 3 to 7+ years of hands-on experience in automotive assembly plant paint shop operations, OEM paint engineering, or Tier 1 paint/chemical supplier technical service.
• Hands-on experience driving Quality Management System compliance, root-cause analysis (8D) and Lean manufacturing processes.
• Strong experience with paint shop materials, chemicals, and automated spray booth equipment.
• Proficient in OEM paint process guidelines, standardized coating quality controls, and ISO regulatory compliance.

Nice To Haves

• Strong cross-functional leadership skills to drive consensus among plant operations, UAW floor operators, maintenance, and Tier 1 chemical/paint suppliers.
• Ability to manipulate complex data sets to identify root causes and drive actionable engineering changes.
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills for reporting to Plant Managers, VME Manufacturing Directors, and Global Paint Engineering leadership.

Responsibilities

• Analyze warranty and quality data to identify recurring defects, failure trends, customer concerns, and opportunities to reduce warranty costs and repeat issues.
• Support ISO and quality audits by ensuring processes, documentation, and records meet required quality standards and by driving corrective actions for audit findings.
• Lead Variation Reduction Team (VRT) activities to identify process variation, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Govern the Uniform Paint Process (UPP) by monitoring process performance, reducing paint defects and variation, and driving continuous process improvements.
• Develop and maintain Process Control Plans (PCPs) that define critical process controls, inspection requirements, reaction plans, and quality standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations to solve complex quality issues, improve process capability, and prevent recurring defects.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree