Quality Engineer

Coastal Automotive is a forward-looking automotive safety manufacturer. We are focused on providing our customers with high performance solutions with exceptional value. Our team works constantly to fill innovation gaps in the automotive industry and provide our customers with the latest technology. We offer great pay, bonuses, benefits, compelling team members, high-integrity leadership, and world-class customers.

Purpose of the Job

Assist with the coordination and completion of all APQP and customer milestones pertaining to launch. Launch Quality is the primary owner of assigned launch projects from First Gate review through Customer approval and start of production.

Complete annual PPAP validations based on customer requirements.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED.
• Bachelor’s degree in technical field preferred or 2+ years of prior experience in an APQP role.
• Experience with statistics is preferred but the applicant must be knowledgeable and competent in algebra.
• Experience with IATF 16949 or ISO 9001 at a minimum.
• Previous Quality Assurance experience preferred.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PPAP Activities: Support Launch and sample part builds to ensure compliance to dimensional and functional requirements. Responsible for preparing, submitting, and approval monitoring of PPAP packages directly with customers.

Engineering Change Activities: Oversees crucial tasks related to ECR events such as Run-at-Rate, Test Reports, and SQE visits.

Problem Solving: Analyzes data to identify trends in product quality or defects with the goal of eliminating noncompliances prior to start-of-production.

Customer Quality Milestones: Assist in maintaining and reporting on crucial gate reviews at and with the customer on all ECR and Launch activities.

Organizational Learning: Record actionable lessons learned utilizing the documented Quality Management System and other appropriate standards.

Supplier Quality: This role will continually monitor quality performance from our supply base. This includes but is not limited to:

• Supplier PPAP requests and monitoring
• Supplier Audits
• Issue/Review Supplier 8D & Corrective Action compliance
• Communications with suppliers on all quality related events
• Work with the Coastal Automotive Materials Manager to review and assess supplier scorecards.

Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives. This position description is intended to guide the activities of the Launch Quality Engineer. It is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person to the work of this function. Nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

• Efficient in creating, altering, and review of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of PPAP’s and Execute PPAP submissions, as required.
• Reviews design plans, process procedures, test procedures, and quality manuals to understand the scope, requirements, and function of products.
• Ensure compliance to all applicable quality Customer-specific systems and requirements.
• Supports product development or operations team by providing analysis and expertise throughout the inspection process.
• Identifies root causes of problems in the production process; recommends and/or implements corrective measures.
• Support Launch and sample part builds to ensure compliance to dimensional and functional requirements.
• Analyzes data to identify trends in product quality or defects with the goal of mitigating and preventing recurrence and future defects.
• Support internal and 3rd party audits of the production process and ensure timely close out of any required corrective actions.
• Support customers, suppliers, and Operations staff.
• Focused on continuous improvement opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Good mechanical/technical skills and ability to read engineering drawings is required.
• Proficient in the use of Quality measuring tools including calipers, gauges, etc.
• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers, particularly automotive related.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to work in a self-directed environment; self-motivated and organized.
• Knowledge and experience in Lean Manufacturing methods is highly desirable.
• Experience in Advanced Quality Planning including strong proficiency with the AIAG Advanced Quality Planning and Control Plan, FMEAs, and PPAPs.
• IMDS preparations, submissions, and review.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and the competencies required by persons assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions associated with this job. This job description is not an employment contract and Coastal reserves the right to change this description at any time.