Quality / Manufacturing Engineer — Gear Manufacturing Commodity SME

SQA Services • Chicago, IL

10h • Onsite

About The Position

SQA Services is hiring a Quality / Manufacturing Engineer to serve as its gear manufacturing commodity subject matter expert and assessment lead for a two-day, on-site readiness assessment of a first-time supplier of a custom three-start worm gear set. Working with an SQA Technical Lead responsible for FAI and metrology, this role leads the Requirements Consumption Review, failure-mechanism-driven commodity assessment, and PPAP readiness review. The engineer evaluates supplier processes, controls, quality-system effectiveness, tooling readiness, capacity, and schedule feasibility, then authors a report identifying gaps and risks to specification and on-time delivery.

The role requires travel to and work at the supplier facility for the full two-day assessment, including shop-floor access with required PPE. Compensation is $65–$75 per hour. Because the position involves access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles, candidates must be U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful permanent residents.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and at least 10 years of directly related experience.
• At least 7 years of hands-on quality or manufacturing engineering experience in precision gear manufacturing, including worm gear or worm-thread production.
• Working knowledge of gear cutting and finishing processes, including hobbing, worm milling or thread grinding, and gear grinding.
• Working knowledge of gear heat treatment, such as carburizing, induction hardening, or nitriding.
• Working knowledge of AGMA gear quality standards and gear inspection methods and results, including lead, profile, pitch, runout, single- and double-flank testing, and contact pattern.
• Hands-on experience developing or reviewing PFMEAs and control plans, and executing or reviewing PPAP/APQP in accordance with AIAG requirements.
• Prior experience leading supplier audits or assessments, with lead auditor training or certification to ISO 9001 or AS9100.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, gear data tables, and GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Strong technical writing skills and ability to produce clear, evidence-based reports on deadline.
• Ability to travel to and work on site at the supplier facility for the full two-day assessment, including shop-floor access with required PPE.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident to comply with ITAR requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the on-site assessment as the gear manufacturing commodity subject matter expert, including the opening meeting, daily out-briefs, and closing meeting with the supplier and client.
• Facilitate the Requirements Consumption Review with the supplier’s cross-functional team and the client, covering contract review, product definition, build plan, inspection and test, CAPA, general workmanship, and tooling/property management.
• Review the gear manufacturing process flow step by step, from blank preparation through shipment, identify credible failure mechanisms, and evaluate prevention and detection controls using a reverse-PFMEA approach.
• Evaluate controls for multi-start worm gearing, including lead, pitch and index accuracy, hob and special-tooling condition, heat-treatment distortion, case depth and hardness, grind burn, contact pattern, backlash, and center distance.
• Evaluate QMS effectiveness as applied to the part, including MRB, nonconformance handling, corrective action, traceability, special-process flow-down to sub-tiers, and continuous improvement.
• When PPAP is required, assess readiness to execute a compliant PPAP, including APQP planning, process flow, PFMEA, control plan, capability studies, and submission process.
• Evaluate special-tooling readiness, capacity, and schedule feasibility against quoted lead time; identify on-time-delivery risks.
• Consolidate findings with the Technical Lead into a gap register, rate each gap by risk and state of control, and recommend actions for the client and supplier.
• Author the Supplier Readiness Assessment Report for SQA technical review within the required timeline and support the client readout.

What This Job Offers

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