Quality Engineer Manager

MacLean Power Systems•Locust Grove, GA

About The Position

The Quality Engineer Manager leads Quality Management Systems (QMS), laboratory operations, testing programs, and incoming product quality functions for the Locust Grove and Wood Dale facilities. As the site quality leader, this role is primarily responsible for QMS effectiveness, compliance, continual improvement, and maintaining ISO 9001 certification, while ensuring customer, regulatory, statutory, and organizational requirements are translated into operational controls. The position provides leadership and technical oversight for incoming inspection, laboratory and product testing, calibration and measurement systems, test method validation, inspection planning, quality documentation, and certification activities. In partnership with Corporate Quality, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Procurement—and suppliers when needed—the manager establishes controls for receipt, inspection, testing, acceptance, and distribution of products. The role develops procedures, work instructions, testing protocols, inspection plans, training, and quality controls to support product conformity and operational performance. The manager identifies and mitigates quality risks, analyzes quality and performance trends, resolves systemic issues, strengthens technical capabilities, and leads continuous improvement. The role also develops a culture of quality, compliance, accountability, ethical decision-making, customer focus, and continuous improvement across the facilities. Travel is approximately 20–30%, primarily to the Wood Dale, Illinois facility, with additional travel to other company locations and external events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline.
7–10 years of experience in quality systems, laboratory management, testing, inspection, or manufacturing quality.
At least 5 years of leadership experience managing quality systems and technical operations.
Demonstrated experience managing ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and certification activities.
Knowledge of ISO 14001.
Experience managing test laboratories, calibration programs, inspection systems, and product testing processes.
Experience supporting incoming quality control, supplier quality, and product verification activities.
Experience with electronic management systems, calibration management systems, and laboratory data management systems.
Ability to travel approximately 20–30%, primarily to support Quality operations at the Wood Dale, Illinois facility, with additional travel to other company locations and external events.
Strong leadership skills, including the ability to establish vision, drive accountability, develop teams, and foster quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and partner effectively with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement, and Corporate Quality leadership.
Demonstrated success leading quality transformation, compliance initiatives, and organizational change.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements; determine inspection and measurement methods; and select and use measurement devices, instruments, and gages.
Expert knowledge of ISO 9001 requirements, auditing, certification maintenance, and management review processes.
Experience developing, implementing, and sustaining quality and environmental management systems.
Strong understanding of risk-based thinking, process management, and continuous improvement principles.
Experience managing laboratory operations, testing programs, test method development, and product validation activities.
Experience interpreting testing standards, such as ASTM, ANSI, IEC, and IEE.
Understanding of laboratory quality controls, measurement uncertainty, test validation, and data integrity principles.
Strong knowledge of calibration systems, measurement standards, gauge control, equipment qualification, and metrology principles.
Ability to ensure traceability, accuracy, and compliance of measurement systems used for inspection and testing.
Advanced root cause analysis and corrective action skills using 5 Why, Ishikawa, A3, 8D, and risk-based methodologies.
Ability to develop and maintain procedures, work instructions, test methods, inspection plans, specifications, and technical reports.
Strong document control and records management experience in regulated or certified environments.

Nice To Haves

Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
Working knowledge of corrosion testing, environmental testing, salt fog testing, coatings evaluation, or related laboratory validation methods.
Experience with ETQ electronic management systems.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, maintain, and continually improve the Locust Grove ISO 9001 QMS, and provide quality leadership and support for the Wood Dale ISO 9001 QMS.
Serve as the primary site quality representative and liaison with certification bodies, customers, regulatory agencies, Corporate Quality, and other external parties for both sites.
Develop and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, testing protocols, acceptance criteria, forms, records, and other QMS documentation.
Lead laboratory operations, including testing methodologies, equipment, workflow, staffing, capacity, resource planning, safety, and laboratory capability development.
Establish and improve incoming inspection and testing programs for products and materials from domestic and international suppliers.
Develop risk-based inspection plans, sampling strategies, acceptance criteria, and verification methods based on product requirements, supplier performance, quality history, risk, and applicable requirements.
Lead salt fog, mechanical, dimensional, and other applicable product validation and verification testing programs.
Maintain laboratory and testing activities in a state of accreditation readiness, including controls for methods, equipment, personnel competency, documentation, reports, records, and objective evidence.
Lead the calibration and metrology program, including measurement standards, equipment qualification, calibration status, traceability, environmental considerations, and measurement-result reliability.
Establish, validate, and maintain test methods, validation protocols, measurement-system controls, and verification techniques.
Ensure control, traceability, retention, and accessibility of test reports, certificates, compliance documentation, calibration records, inspection results, and other quality records.
Coordinate with Corporate Quality to plan and execute the ISO 9001 internal audit program, including corrective-action follow-up, effectiveness verification, and closure of findings.
Plan and facilitate external certification, surveillance, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits, including preparation, responses, corrective actions, and follow-up.
Lead investigation and resolution of product and process nonconformances, inspection or test failures, customer complaints, supplier quality issues, and other quality or compliance concerns.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Corporate Quality, and other facilities to improve product and supplier quality, strengthen controls, and reduce risk.
Work with suppliers, Supply Chain, and Procurement to address supplier performance and product conformity concerns and verify sustained improvement.
Develop, monitor, analyze, and communicate QMS, incoming quality, supplier quality, laboratory, testing, calibration, and audit metrics, and drive appropriate actions in response to trends.
Develop management review inputs covering QMS performance, audits, customer and supplier performance, nonconformances, laboratory performance, risks, resource needs, and improvement priorities.
Oversee document and record control, including review, approval, control, distribution, revision, retention, and protection from unintended use.
Establish training, qualification, and competency requirements for Quality and laboratory personnel and ensure personnel are appropriately trained and competent.
Provide leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to Quality personnel and support other functions in fulfilling their quality responsibilities.
Promote a quality culture centered on compliance, accountability, ethical behavior, technical discipline, risk-based thinking, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
Identify laboratory, metrology, testing, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure needs and support business justification and capital planning.
Support integration and standardization of quality systems, processes, testing methods, documentation, and practices across Locust Grove, Wood Dale, Trenton, Corporate Quality, and other facilities.
Travel to Wood Dale and other company or corporate locations for quality leadership, QMS support, integration, audits, training, meetings, and other business needs.
Partner with third-party logistics providers to investigate and resolve quality nonconformances, customer complaints, product handling concerns, and other quality issues, and verify corrective-action effectiveness.
Ensure third-party logistics operations are incorporated into the ISO 9001 QMS scope and controls, with defined quality requirements, responsibilities, performance monitoring, and adherence to applicable requirements.