What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Engineer – APQP position at NPAworldwide?
Job Description
Reports to: Quality Manager
Summary
The Quality Engineer APQP is a corporate Quality role embedded at the manufacturing plant, responsible for ensuring that new and existing stamped components meet customer requirements and internal quality standards throughout the product lifecycle. While based onsite, this position operates with a corporate quality mandate, supporting customer integration, launch readiness, and standardized quality execution across programs.
This role exists to bridge customer requirements, design intent, and plant execution, ensuring APQP disciplines, PPAP deliverables, and production controls are effectively implemented and sustained. The Quality Engineer partners closely with plant manufacturing, engineering, and assembly teams while maintaining alignment with corporate quality systems and customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Quality & Customer Integration
Act as the corporate Quality representative onsite for assigned customer programs
Interface directly with customers on quality requirements, feedback, and corrective actions
Translate customer and design requirements into plant-level quality documentation and controls
Track customer quality performance and manage improvement plans as needed
APQP / New Program Launch
Lead and support APQP activities for new programs and engineering changes
Develop, review, and maintain Control Plans, Part Inspection Standards, and Inspection Plans
Coordinate and submit PPAP packages in alignment with customer and corporate requirements
Participate in High Volume Production Trials (HVPTs) and validate readiness for launch
Review and initiate Cp/Cpk studies; identify and mitigate process capability risks
Support die and equipment buy-offs prior to production approval
Manufacturing & Process Quality (Plant Interface)
Partner with plant production, engineering, and assembly teams to ensure quality requirements are met
Identify dimensional issues and support resolution of assembly fit-up concerns
Implement and sustain SPC and statistical monitoring aligned with corporate standards
Lead structured problem-solving (8D, root cause analysis) for internal and external issues
Initiate Change Control Notifications (CCNs) and corrective actions as required
Supplier Quality Coordination
Support supplier quality activities related to purchased components and raw materials
Communicate supplier quality issues to Purchasing and appropriate stakeholders
Ensure supplier quality requirements align with corporate and customer expectations
Quality Systems & Compliance
Ensure plant-level execution aligns with IATF 16949, VDA and corporate quality systems
Maintain documentation, audits, and follow-up related to corrective actions and changes
Qualifications
Required Experience & Qualifications
Must-Have
7 years of Quality Engineering experience in automotive manufacturing
Stamping Experience Is Required
Strong hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, FMEA, GR&R, Cp/Cpk
Experience supporting launches, HVPTs, and high-volume production
Ability to read and interpret prints, GD&T, and part drawings
Preferred
Experience working in a corporate or matrixed quality organization
Prior customer-facing QE experience with OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers
Die buy-off or tooling-related quality exposure
Education
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field
Equivalent technical experience considered in lieu of a degree
Skills & Competencies
Strong communicator able to interface with customers and internal stakeholders
Ability to influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment
Data-driven problem solver with strong analytical skills
Organized, decisive, and comfortable operating onsite in a production setting
Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement mindset uring principles
Benefits
Why is This a Great Opportunity:
High-impact role with career growth opportunity
Great benefits package
Reports to: Quality Manager
Summary
The Quality Engineer APQP is a corporate Quality role embedded at the manufacturing plant, responsible for ensuring that new and existing stamped components meet customer requirements and internal quality standards throughout the product lifecycle. While based onsite, this position operates with a corporate quality mandate, supporting customer integration, launch readiness, and standardized quality execution across programs.
This role exists to bridge customer requirements, design intent, and plant execution, ensuring APQP disciplines, PPAP deliverables, and production controls are effectively implemented and sustained. The Quality Engineer partners closely with plant manufacturing, engineering, and assembly teams while maintaining alignment with corporate quality systems and customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Quality & Customer Integration
Act as the corporate Quality representative onsite for assigned customer programs
Interface directly with customers on quality requirements, feedback, and corrective actions
Translate customer and design requirements into plant-level quality documentation and controls
Track customer quality performance and manage improvement plans as needed
APQP / New Program Launch
Lead and support APQP activities for new programs and engineering changes
Develop, review, and maintain Control Plans, Part Inspection Standards, and Inspection Plans
Coordinate and submit PPAP packages in alignment with customer and corporate requirements
Participate in High Volume Production Trials (HVPTs) and validate readiness for launch
Review and initiate Cp/Cpk studies; identify and mitigate process capability risks
Support die and equipment buy-offs prior to production approval
Manufacturing & Process Quality (Plant Interface)
Partner with plant production, engineering, and assembly teams to ensure quality requirements are met
Identify dimensional issues and support resolution of assembly fit-up concerns
Implement and sustain SPC and statistical monitoring aligned with corporate standards
Lead structured problem-solving (8D, root cause analysis) for internal and external issues
Initiate Change Control Notifications (CCNs) and corrective actions as required
Supplier Quality Coordination
Support supplier quality activities related to purchased components and raw materials
Communicate supplier quality issues to Purchasing and appropriate stakeholders
Ensure supplier quality requirements align with corporate and customer expectations
Quality Systems & Compliance
Ensure plant-level execution aligns with IATF 16949, VDA and corporate quality systems
Maintain documentation, audits, and follow-up related to corrective actions and changes
Qualifications
Required Experience & Qualifications
Must-Have
7 years of Quality Engineering experience in automotive manufacturing
Stamping Experience Is Required
Strong hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, FMEA, GR&R, Cp/Cpk
Experience supporting launches, HVPTs, and high-volume production
Ability to read and interpret prints, GD&T, and part drawings
Preferred
Experience working in a corporate or matrixed quality organization
Prior customer-facing QE experience with OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers
Die buy-off or tooling-related quality exposure
Education
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field
Equivalent technical experience considered in lieu of a degree
Skills & Competencies
Strong communicator able to interface with customers and internal stakeholders
Ability to influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment
Data-driven problem solver with strong analytical skills
Organized, decisive, and comfortable operating onsite in a production setting
Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement mindset uring principles
Benefits
Why is This a Great Opportunity:
High-impact role with career growth opportunity
Great benefits package