Quality / Manufacturing Engineer — Castings
sqaservices · Blaine, MN · onsite
USD 50 to 65 · period not stated
Key Responsibilities:
- ▪ Lead the on-site assessment as the castings commodity SME, including the opening meeting, daily out-briefs, and closing meeting with the supplier and client.
- ▪ Facilitate the Requirements Consumption Review (RCR) with the supplier’s cross-functional team and client (virtual), covering contract review, product definition, build plan, inspection and test, CAPA, general workmanship, and tooling / property management.
- ▪ Walk the casting process flow step by step — pattern and gating, melt and chemistry, pouring and solidification, heat treatment, cleaning and finishing, weld repair, NDT, and shipment — identifying credible failure mechanisms and evaluating the prevention and detection controls in place (reverse-PFMEA approach).
- ▪ Evaluate QMS effectiveness as applied to the part, including MRB, nonconformance handling, corrective action, traceability, and continuous improvement.
- ▪ Where PPAP is required, assess the supplier’s readiness to execute a compliant PPAP: APQP planning, process flow, PFMEA, control plan, capability studies, and submission process.
- ▪ Evaluate schedule feasibility and capacity against quoted lead times and identify risks to on-time delivery.
- ▪ Consolidate findings with the Technical Lead into a gap register, rating each gap by risk and state of control, and recommend actions for the client and supplier.
- ▪ Escalate any observation posing an immediate risk to conformance or schedule to SQA within one business day.
- ▪ Author the Supplier Readiness Assessment Report for SQA technical review within the required timeline and support the client readout.
Required Qualifications:
- ▪ Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, metallurgical / materials, manufacturing, or industrial engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and at least 10 years of directly related experience.
- ▪ Minimum 7 years of hands-on quality or manufacturing engineering experience in metal casting operations (sand, investment, or permanent mold).
- ▪ Demonstrated working knowledge of casting failure mechanisms (porosity, shrinkage, inclusions, hot tears, cold shuts, misruns, dimensional distortion) and the process controls that prevent them.
- ▪ Working knowledge of casting NDT methods (RT, PT, MT) and of chemical and mechanical property verification, including test bars and coupons.
- ▪ Hands-on experience developing or reviewing PFMEAs and control plans, and executing or reviewing PPAP / APQP per 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 and GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
- ▪ Strong technical writing skills; able to produce clear, evidence-based reports on deadline.
- ▪ Able to travel to and work on site at the supplier facility for the full two-day assessment, including shop-floor access with required PPE.