Careers

Job Title: Manufacturing/Quality Control Engineer

Location: Ames, Iowa

Salary: $85,000 - $95,000

Job Summary of the Manufacturing/Quality Control Engineer: The Manufacturing/Quality Control Engineer plays a vital role in developing, optimizing, and implementing manufacturing processes to ensure the efficient and high-quality production of products. This position focuses on improving process design rather than product design, with a strong emphasis on ensuring product quality and a seamless transition of new designs to the production team.

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Manufacturing/Quality Control Engineer:

·Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, and other technical documentation to produce accurate and precise drawings.

·Develop, document, and refine manufacturing processes to ensure they are reliable, repeatable, and cost-effective.

·Lead the design and implementation of new production methods for upcoming products and revisions.

·Collaborate with design engineering to transition product concepts into scalable manufacturing processes.

·Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve process performance.

·Maintain and update documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and forms as required by ISO 9000 standards.

·Serve as the key communication link between product development and production to ensure the intended design is maintained during launch.

·Lead pre-production process validation, including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), control plans, and capability studies.

·Support tooling, equipment, and fixture design to ensure preparedness for manufacturing processes.

·Monitor early production runs to ensure process stability and conformity of products.

·Proactively identify process risks and implement preventive measures to drive quality assurance.

·Utilize lean manufacturing tools and methodologies to minimize waste and increase throughput.

·Support internal audits and corrective action planning for process and product quality improvement.

·Lead cross-functional teams in continuous improvement initiatives such as Kaizen.

·Liaise with Quality, Design, and Operations teams to align process requirements with customer expectations.

·Effectively communicate with internal teams and suppliers regarding process capability, improvement plans, and project timelines.

·Provide training to operators and technicians on new processes and updated standards.

Education & Experience of the Manufacturing/Quality Control Engineer:

·Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline is required.

·A minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing or process engineering within an industrial setting is required.

·A strong background in process development, launch, and optimization is required.

·Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, with Syteline experience being a plus, and ISO quality systems is desired.

·Experience in industrial/heavy-duty products is a plus.

·Excellent analytical, communication, and project management skills are required.

·Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and computer-aided design (CAD) tools is required.

·Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines is required.

·Familiarity with lean tools such as 5S, value stream mapping, and Six Sigma is preferred.

·Proficiency in ERP systems and a strong understanding of utilizing technology to enhance operational efficiencies is desired.