APQP/PPAP Quality Engineer -- Automotive Manufacturing

Make quality your craft in Alma, MI

Employment: Direct hire | Location: Alma, Michigan | Salary: $80,000–$85,000 (flexible up to $90,000 for the right candidate) | Relocation: Assistance available

A day in the role

You start the morning syncing with manufacturing and engineering to confirm inspection methods for new launches. By mid-day, you’re steering APQP/PPAP activities to secure customer approvals, then partnering with suppliers to lock in product certifications and verify process capability. In the afternoon, you review CP/CPK trends, PPM performance, and Cost of Quality metrics, turning insights into corrective and preventive actions. You finish by updating the internal audit calendar (IATF, BIQS, ISO 14001:2015) and coaching inspectors on best-practice measurement and problem-solving techniques.

What you will lead

• Own APQP and PPAP for new and updated programs to obtain customer sign-off.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, including resident quality engineers, resolving issues quickly and thoroughly.
• Define inspection and testing requirements with internal engineering/manufacturing teams.
• Collaborate with subcontractors on inspection/testing, product certification, and process capability; support supplier development to elevate supply chain quality.
• Build and maintain control plans; analyze process capability data to drive improvements.
• Prepare and present quality performance reports (CP/CPK, PPM, Cost of Quality, IATF, Ford Q1, GM BIQS).
• Identify quality risks via inspection data and charts; recommend robust corrective and preventive actions.
• Schedule and track internal audits (IATF, BIQS, ISO 14001:2015), corrective actions, and training activities.
• Support incoming material/part testing and certification prior to production use.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable industry standards.
• Train inspection and testing personnel; champion interplant collaboration and plant objectives.
• Apply statistical methods and advanced problem-solving to prevent and resolve quality issues.

What you bring

• 5+ years in quality engineering, ideally within automotive manufacturing.
• Associate’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• CMM expertise may be considered in lieu of formal engineering background.
• Proven analytical, organizational, and problem-solving strengths.
• Proficiency with PC tools and statistical software.
• Self-directed, detail-focused, reliable, and proactive communicator who partners well with leaders, peers, and customers.
• IATF or similar certifications are a plus, not a requirement.

Compliance

A successful candidate will be subject to a background check and must receive satisfactory results of the same, as a condition of joining the team.

By applying, you confirm your application information is accurate and complete; falsification may result in withdrawal of consideration, rescission of offer, or termination.