Quality Engineer 1

Denso•Battle Creek, MI

About The Position

The Quality Engineer I will work within the DMMI-0231 Quality Engineering team at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. in Battle Creek, Michigan. The role focuses on supplier and customer quality, internal process improvement, automotive quality tools, and supporting quality requirements for components and new product launches. It is listed as a part-time position at 32 hours per week, four days per week, with flexible workdays Monday through Friday. The position manages customer non-conformance claims and quality concerns, investigates issues through site reviews and data analysis, supports containment and defective-product recovery, and works with DENSO plants to establish and verify countermeasures. It also manages customer approval processes for engineering and design changes, supports new-model launch requirements, and performs plant visits and audits. Additional responsibilities include maintaining quality documentation, monitoring metrics, supporting corrective and preventive actions, and contributing to continuous improvement and quality-system compliance. The posting gives conflicting experience requirements: one section states 0–3 years of relevant experience, while another specifies a minimum of four years of engineering experience in a quality environment. The stated annual salary is $56,000–$70,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field.
The posting lists both 0–3 years of relevant experience and a minimum of four years of engineering experience in a quality environment.
Mechanical aptitude to investigate customer issues that may be vague.
Customer-service skills and ability to promote and support a service-oriented environment.
Negotiation skills and ability to defend a position while considering benefits for all parties.
Ability to foster and maintain relationships and work as part of a cross-functional or multidisciplinary team.
Flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
High commitment to quality.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Proficiency with basic quality tools, including SPC, FMEA, and Pareto.
Knowledge of AIAG Core Tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and SPC.
Experience conducting supplier audits and managing supplier quality.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Effective written and verbal communication abilities.
Familiarity with ISO/TS 16949 automotive quality standards.

Responsibilities

Manage in-line customer non-conformance claims for assigned plants and manufacturers.
Monitor customer quality issues through web portals, correspondence, and customer site visits.
Investigate quality concerns, recover defective products, ship them to DENSO plants, and establish on-site containment for critical issues.
Review countermeasures proposed by DENSO plants.
Track customer rating systems, reconcile inaccurate records with customers, and request corrections.
Identify process root causes through on-site reviews and data analysis, and develop countermeasures to prevent recurrence.
Manage customer approval processes and system engineering change activities.
Review design-change information, follow up with plants on concerns, relay customer requests for additional information or sample parts, and notify plants when new parts are approved for shipment.
Hold customer status meetings to discuss progress and concerns.
Ensure new-model requirements are completed according to customer schedules and attend customer kickoff meetings.
Follow DENSO North America Quality Engineering standards for new-model launch activities and negotiate changes to customer or plant requirements.
Establish plant visits to perform audits and conduct plant “Go and See” activities when major quality issues are reported.
Monitor design changes to confirm implementation and effectiveness, evaluate plant process changes and countermeasures, and recommend further improvements.
Perform supplier audits and assessments using AIAG Core Tools.
Analyze and resolve non-conformances and customer complaints.
Develop and maintain quality documentation, including PPAP and control plans.
Support continuous-improvement initiatives using basic quality tools such as 5-Why and Fishbone.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive corrective and preventive actions.
Monitor key quality metrics and generate performance reports.
Assist with root-cause investigations and implement effective solutions.
Participate in internal and external quality-system audits.
Provide technical support for new product introductions.
Maintain compliance with ISO/TS 16949 and other relevant standards.