Quality Engineer / Quality Lead

Gleason•Loves Park, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Quality Engineer / Quality Lead to join our manufacturing team. This hybrid role bridges technical quality engineering with hands-on, high-level inspection leadership. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality standards, while actively leading our inspection team on the shop floor. The ideal candidate possesses strong engineering problem-solving skills (like root-cause analysis) alongside expert-level knowledge of precision measurement tools to ensure product specifications are consistently met, defects are proactively eliminated, and the highest standards of manufacturing quality and dimensional accuracy are maintained.

Requirements

Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing quality or quality engineering role.
High proficiency in blueprint reading.
Hands-on experience operating CMM equipment and using standard precision measuring tools.
Demonstrated experience using QA tools (FMEA, SPC, Root-Cause Analysis).
Strong technical writing skills for creating reports and the ability to coach floor inspectors and communicate defects to production teams.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a related technical field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) Preferred
Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISOI 14001 quality & environmental management systems.
Gear inspection experience a plus
Willingness to attain ISO Auditor qualification, attend additional training as necessary.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and audit quality control systems and inspection plans for incoming, in-process, and finished goods.
Lead investigations into internal non-conformances and customer returns using structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, 8D, Fishbone diagrams).
Author and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Quality Manuals.
Collaborate with all areas to evaluate internal / external / supplier corrective action requests (OSARS) and ensure timely and effective implementations of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Track and analyze quality metrics (scrap rates, defect types) to identify trends and present actionable data to management.
Perform complex, high-precision inspections on first-article parts, prototypes, and critical production runs using CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machines), optical comparators, micrometers, and calipers.
Provide technical support and coordinate quality technician team daily schedules, inspection tasks, department assignments to ensure testing throughput matches production timelines.
Oversee the calibration schedule and database for all plant measurement gages and inspection equipment, ensuring compliance with ISO standards.
Serve as the facilitator of the continuous improvement system and team to drive organizational changes and improvement suggestions.
Function as a lead auditor for ISO 9001-ISO 14001 for internal compliance to the standards.