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 improvement and operational excellence. The role applies quality-systems knowledge, promotes disciplined systems and robust processes, standardizes best practices, and uses key performance metrics to assess operating-system health and effectiveness. It also develops cross-functional relationships to support proactive engagement and productive customer relationships.

The role leads purchase-order and specification reviews, customer-requirement negotiation and flowdown, advanced product quality planning, and translation of requirements to the operator level. It acts as the customer advocate, drives process improvement and reduction or elimination of material reviews, concessions, corrective and preventive actions, and escapes, and ensures customer verification such as FAIR is completed and submitted. The position assesses business-system health against customer and industry standards through internal audits and corrective/preventive action management. Domestic and international travel of less than 25% is required. The position involves access to export-controlled items, and employment offers are conditioned on the applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access. Visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum two years of quality experience in a manufacturing environment.
• General Auditor (Internal): two audits totaling ten audit days within the past three years, or five years of relevant audit experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience and proficiency in understanding ISO 9000 and/or AS9100.
• Knowledge of statistical tools and techniques, APQP, and Measurement System Analysis is recommended.
• Experience coordinating, developing, and executing corrective, preventive, systemic action, and process-improvement activities.
• Ability to read blueprints and flow down customer requirements.
• Customer-interface experience and understanding and deployment of customer requirements.
• Demonstrated internal auditing skills.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally less than 25%.
• Understanding of non-destructive validation methods such as visual, X-ray, and penetrant inspection, and Nadcap understanding if required.
• Understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Basic computer skills.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Written, verbal, non-verbal communication, and presentation skills; ability to communicate with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers, listen effectively, and maintain professionalism.
• Ability to multitask in a demanding environment and work independently with little to no guidance.
• 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.
• Quantitative and qualitative skills, business acumen, and ability to relate quality impacts to financial outcomes using A3 thinking.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.
• Ability to lawfully obtain access to export-controlled items.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Listens and makes decisions based on the facts.
• Advanced computer skills can be learned.

Responsibilities

• Lead purchase-order and specification reviews, including customer-requirement negotiation, advanced product quality planning, and translating requirements to the operator level.
• Act as the customer advocate and facilitate customer connections and understanding and deployment of customer requirements.
• Lead process improvement, including review, disposition, and elimination 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/or industry standards through internal audits and corrective and preventive action management.
• Develop internal and external relationships to achieve engagement, influence, and customer connections.
• Apply problem-solving methodologies and corrective/preventive action skills proactively to address issues and improve business objectives.
• Analyze manufacturing problems objectively and independently, facilitate problem-solving activities, and connect quality objectives with overall business objectives.
• Coordinate, develop, and execute corrective, preventive, systemic action, and process-improvement activities.
• Apply customer specifications and drawings at least cost, avoiding over-processing, and ensure blueprint reading and customer-requirement flowdown.
• Apply internal auditing skills and understanding of regulatory requirements and, where required, non-destructive validation methods and Nadcap requirements.
• Communicate and work effectively with internal and external customers and all levels of the organization, maintaining professionalism and listening effectively.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with EHS rules required for the work environment.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage beginning on the first day of employment.
• 401(k) plan with a company contribution of 3% of eligible compensation and a 100% match on employee contributions up to 6%, for the opportunity to receive up to 15% of eligible compensation in total retirement contributions.
• 13 company-paid holidays each year.
• Annual paid time off (PTO).

What This Job Offers

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