Quality Engineer

National Pen•Shelbyville, TN

31d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Engineer is the primary on-site Quality representative at the Tennessee manufacturing facility, responsible for ensuring process consistency and the delivery of defect-free products. This role provides hands-on quality engineering support to manufacturing operations, leading problem solving, supporting continuous improvement, and safeguarding product integrity prior to shipment. Working closely with Production, Engineering, and the Quality team, the Quality Engineer supports the QA Manager by executing site-level quality activities, resolving customer quality issues, and driving improvements using structured methodologies such as PDCA.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing quality or quality engineering.
Working knowledge of quality tools and techniques (SPC/control charts, 5 Whys, Pareto analysis, root cause analysis, CAPA).
Familiarity with quality systems and audit support activities.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Effective communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams.
Ability to provide technical leadership and day-to-day guidance.
Customer-focused mindset with an understanding of product quality and delivery requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing or maintaining Control Plans and PFMEAs preferred.
Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification preferred.
Knowledge of ISO 9001 or other quality management systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary on-site Quality authority for the Tennessee manufacturing facility.
Provide technical leadership to Quality Inspectors, including work prioritization and guidance.
Serve as the escalation point for high-impact quality issues affecting safety, compliance, delivery, or customer satisfaction.
Lead root cause analysis and cross-functional corrective and preventive actions.
Apply the PDCA methodology to resolve quality issues in collaboration with Manufacturing and global Quality teams.
Identify, assess, and mitigate process and product quality risks.
Maintain, and improve Control Plans, PFMEAs, and inspection strategies.
Support process validation for new products, equipment, and process changes.
Ensure process capability and stability meet quality requirements.
Support resolution of customer quality issues and audits.
Coordinate supplier corrective action activities in partnership with Purchasing and global Quality teams.
Represent Quality Engineering in customer and supplier quality discussions as required.
Track and report Quality KPIs.
Communicate quality performance, risks, and improvement actions to site and Quality leadership.
Ensure compliance with quality systems, standards, and regulatory requirements.
Support internal, customer, and external audits.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes.
Support the development of quality engineering capability through training and standard work.
Train production personnel in quality standards, procedures, and best practices.
Promote a strong culture of quality ownership and continuous improvement across the site.