Quality Engineer

USA Rare Earth•Stillwater, OK

About The Position

The Quality Engineer supports daily Quality System operations and helps maintain the integrity of the Quality System. The role supports Quality Leadership with new product launches and takes a customer-facing approach. With a primary focus on Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), the engineer ensures products and processes are designed, validated, and launched to meet customer requirements, quality standards, and regulatory obligations. The role works closely with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and supplier teams to build quality into products and processes from the start. The successful candidate will be an influential member of the Quality team and champion of the company’s values. The position involves work in office, manufacturing-floor, and construction-site environments, with customer-site travel and support when required.

Requirements

A minimum of 5–10 years of hands-on quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO 9001, AS 9100, or IATF 16949 certification.
Understanding of PFMEAs and control plans.
Ability to lead and train others on the team.
Ability to lead or support the corrective action process.
Basic computer skills, including ERP systems, Excel, and data entry.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and perform frequent standing, walking, and bending.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment for the duration of a shift.
Ability to travel to customer sites and provide on-site support when required.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting manufacturing or industrial production workflows.
Exposure to 5S and continuous improvement practices.

Responsibilities

Lead APQP for new and revised products from voice-of-customer requirements through production launch, ensuring deliverables meet customer and regulatory specifications.
Facilitate cross-functional APQP teams, including engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and suppliers, to meet program milestones and resolve risks on schedule.
Manage PPAP submissions, including flow diagrams, FMEA, process control plans, and gate reviews, to ensure supplier and internal processes are approved before volume production.
Support Quality Leadership with new product launches.
Lead or participate in the corrective action process.
Support receiving and final inspections.
Perform internal audits according to schedule and direction, and follow findings through to closure.
Lead or support the completion of customer assessments and provide on-site customer support when required.
Contribute to standard work instructions and train others on them.
Follow company safety policies, mandatory PPE requirements, and operational guidelines.
Participate in 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
Perform additional duties as assigned.