Quality Engineer

Gleason•Loves Park, IL

4d•$72,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Quality Engineer III serves as a senior technical resource responsible for strengthening the manufacturing Quality Management System and leading quality engineering activities across production and support functions. The role applies quality engineering methods, supports compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, improves process controls, leads corrective action and continual improvement, and provides daily technical direction to quality technicians and inspection laboratories. The position combines hands-on manufacturing quality expertise with ownership of risk-based quality planning, process auditing, root-cause analysis, control plans, inspection planning, metrology, and quality data analysis to improve product conformity, process capability, customer satisfaction, and sustained QMS performance. The role provides functional leadership to quality technicians and inspectors but does not have direct personnel-management responsibility. It works with the Quality Supervisor, production, engineering, purchasing, suppliers, and management to resolve quality issues, implement improvements, communicate requirements, and promote quality ownership. The employee must support the Gleason Business Philosophy, applicable ISO objectives and targets, Lean Manufacturing principles, and continual improvement activities.

Requirements

Hands-on experience in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, inspection, auditing, or Quality Management System support.
Working knowledge of ISO 9001 requirements, internal auditing, documented information, corrective action, risk-based thinking, customer satisfaction, and continual improvement.
High proficiency in blueprint reading, inspection planning, and measurement methods.
Demonstrated experience with root-cause analysis, corrective action, nonconformance control, and data-driven problem solving.
Hands-on experience using CMM equipment and standard precision measuring tools.
Strong technical writing, audit reporting, coaching, and cross-functional communication skills.
Proficiency in the Microsoft 365 suite.
Ability to navigate a busy manufacturing floor safely and move freely throughout the manufacturing plant and office.
Ability to lift up to 35 lbs occasionally.
Ability to stand for prolonged periods at inspection stations and work on a computer.
Willingness to attain or maintain ISO auditor qualification and attend additional quality engineering and QMS training as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, quality, manufacturing, or a related technical field, or equivalent education and experience.
Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems and ISO 14001 environmental management systems.
Gear inspection experience.

Responsibilities

Participate in and support ISO 9001 quality system and ISO 14001 environmental system processes, procedures, work instructions, forms, and documented information to ensure effective implementation and ongoing compliance.
Develop, review, and improve inspection plans, process controls, and risk mitigation activities to prevent defects and support consistent product conformity.
Lead investigations into internal nonconformances, customer complaints, supplier issues, and audit findings using structured problem-solving tools such as 5 Why, 8D, fishbone diagrams, and corrective action plans.
Perform and support ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 internal audits, customer audits, supplier audits, and certification audit activities; verify corrective actions for effectiveness and closure.
Track, analyze, and report quality indicators, including scrap, rework, customer complaints, audit findings, supplier defects, and corrective action status, to identify trends and drive improvement projects.
Partner with the Quality Supervisor, production, engineering, purchasing, suppliers, and management to resolve quality issues, implement process improvements, communicate requirements, and promote quality ownership.
Provide quality input for product and process changes, recommend containment or escalation when requirements are not met, and support disposition decisions within delegated authority.
Provide day-to-day technical direction to quality technicians and inspectors; assign and coordinate inspection priorities; support qualification and training; review inspection work for completeness and accuracy; and escalate staffing, performance, or disciplinary matters to the Quality Supervisor.
Perform inspection as needed on critical features using CMM, optical comparators, micrometers, calipers, gages, and other precision measurement equipment.
Create and maintain inspection requirements, sampling plans, receiving inspection criteria, in-process checks, final inspection requirements, and records demonstrating product conformity.
Audit and verify third-party calibration services and calibration-system processes; ensure measuring and monitoring equipment is identified and controlled; address out-of-tolerance conditions in accordance with quality procedures.
Support control of QMS procedures, work instructions, inspection records, calibration records, nonconformance records, audit reports, and corrective action documentation.
Maintain confidentiality and exercise professional judgment; understand and follow departmental procedures, work instructions, process controls, inspection requirements, and records needed to support product conformity and QMS effectiveness.
Learn, understand, and practice Lean Manufacturing principles; move throughout the manufacturing plant and office to perform assignments.
Attain or maintain ISO auditor qualification, attend quality engineering and QMS training as necessary, support continual improvement, and project a positive image of self, department, and company.