Quality Engineer

Howmet Aerospace • La Porte, IN

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Howmet Aerospace is seeking a Quality Engineer for its investment casting facility in La Porte, Indiana, which supplies jet engine components to aerospace customers. The Quality Engineer provides leadership and guidance to implement process improvements and promote operational excellence. The role applies quality systems, supports disciplined processes and standardization of best practices, and uses key performance metrics to assess business-system health and effectiveness. It also builds cross-functional relationships to encourage proactive engagement among operations teams and productive relationships with customers.

The Quality Engineer leads purchase-order and specification review, customer-requirement negotiation, advanced product quality planning, and translation of requirements to the operator level. The role serves as a customer advocate, leads process improvement activities, and ensures required customer verification, such as First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs), is completed and submitted. The position requires domestic and international travel of less than 25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution.
• Three years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required, and visa sponsorship is unavailable.
• Must be able to lawfully obtain access to export-controlled items.
• Practical understanding of manufacturing processes and production operations, including manufacturing, inspection, engineering, and customer interaction.
• Problem-solving and corrective/preventive action skills, with a proactive approach.
• Ability to multitask in a demanding environment and work independently with little to no guidance.
• Ability to link quality objectives to business objectives and apply problem-solving methods to improve them.
• Blueprint-reading and customer-requirement flowdown skills.
• Customer interface experience and understanding of customer requirements.
• Demonstrated internal auditing skills.
• Understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Basic computer skills.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Written, verbal, and non-verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate with all organizational levels and work with internal and external customers.
• Ability to listen, respond appropriately to verbal and non-verbal communication, and maintain professionalism.
• Ability to work through issues professionally and make objective analyses.
• Must comply with EHS rules applicable to the work environment.

Nice To Haves

• General Auditor qualification and three years of relevant audit experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with AS9100.
• Knowledge of ISO 9000 and/or AS9100, statistical tools and techniques, APQP, and measurement system analysis.
• Understanding of non-destructive validation methodology and Nadcap requirements, if required.
• Demonstrates the highest ethical standards.
• Makes decisions based on data and facts.
• Displays business savvy and a bias for action.
• Acts as a mentor and coach.
• Ability to listen and make decisions based on facts.

Responsibilities

• Lead purchase-order and specification reviews, including negotiation of customer requirements, advanced product quality planning, and translating requirements to the operator level.
• Represent the voice of the customer and support customer interactions and deployment of customer requirements.
• Lead process improvement, including review and disposition of material review, concessions, corrective and preventive actions, and escapes.
• Ensure customer verification, such as FAIR, is completed and submitted to the customer.
• Assess business-system health against customer and industry standards through internal audits and corrective and preventive action management.
• Build internal and external relationships to promote engagement, influence, and customer connections.
• Apply problem-solving methodologies and corrective and preventive action skills proactively to address issues and improve business objectives.
• Use manufacturing-process and production-operation knowledge to analyze problems and facilitate resolution across manufacturing, inspection, engineering, and customer interaction.
• Link, monitor, and improve quality objectives in relation to overall business objectives, including business and financial considerations.
• Apply customer specifications and drawings efficiently, avoiding over-processing, and support blueprint reading and customer-requirement flowdown.
• Coordinate, develop, and execute corrective, preventive, systemic-action, and process-improvement activities.
• Apply knowledge of non-destructive validation methods, such as visual, X-ray, and penetrant inspection, and Nadcap requirements when applicable.
• Communicate professionally with internal and external customers and people at all organizational levels, listen effectively, and deliver written and verbal presentations.
• Comply with EHS rules for the work environment and perform other duties as assigned.
• Travel domestically and internationally as required, less than 25%.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage, including FSA and HSA account options.
• 401(k) retirement savings plans with employer matching and a separate employer retirement contribution.
• 13 company-paid holidays and paid vacation/PTO.
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance programs.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional auto, home, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance coverage.
• Tuition assistance and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Health insurance coverage beginning on the first day of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level