Lead Quality Assurance Engineer

SUMMARY

The Lead Quality Engineer provides technical leadership for quality assurance and quality control activities across ATG programs, projects, and manufacturing operations. The role translates customer, design, code, regulatory, and quality-system requirements into practical execution plans; supports timely resolution of quality issues; and ensures objective evidence is complete, accurate, traceable, and defensible.

The Lead Quality Engineer serves as a working technical leader, develops team capability, and partners with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Document Control to protect compliance while improving flow, utilization, and first-pass quality.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead quality engineering activities for assigned programs, establishing clear priorities, deliverables, and ownership across the quality team.

• Provide technical direction, coaching, and mentorship to Quality Engineers, inspectors, and cross-functional team members. Review work products for technical adequacy, consistency, and compliance with applicable requirements.

• Develop and refine Quality Engineering processes and best practices to support company growth, technical excellence, consistency, and quality objectives.

• Coordinate the Corrective Action Program, including the investigation and resolution of quality issues, while promoting continuous improvement across the organization.

• Serve as or become qualified as a Lead Auditor and support internal, customer, supplier, and external certification audits.

• Develop and document project-specific Quality Matrices that translate drawings, fabrication requirements, quality specifications, and customer requirements into clear quality and inspection criteria.

• Develop and document project-specific procurement quality flow-down requirements.

• Create and review Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), coordinating with Project Engineers as needed for technical support and clarification.

• Review and evaluate inspection records, test results, Travelers, and related quality documentation for conformance with the Quality Program and project requirements prior to customer submittal.

• Coordinate with the company Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) to ensure the welding program is properly maintained, including welder qualification and continuity records.

• Recommend and implement improvements to procedures, processes, and fabrication techniques to enhance workflow, product quality, and operational effectiveness.

• Ensure the timely planning and execution of destructive and nondestructive testing (NDT) of materials, components, and products to verify required material and product characteristics.

• Support the evaluation, resolution, and disposition of nonconforming materials and products.

• Assist with maintaining required qualifications and certifications for inspection and testing personnel, identifying and communicating training or qualification deficiencies.

• Ensure proper implementation and maintenance of the calibration program for inspection and measurement equipment.

• Develop and deliver training to support effective implementation and ongoing compliance with the Quality System.

• Perform administrative and other duties as directed by the QA Manager.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position has supervisory responsibilities overseeing a small team of Quality Engineers.

• Assesses employee skillsets, identifies gaps, and provides or obtains required job specific training as required.

• Conducts employee performance appraisals.

• Participates in assisting with identifying talent and interviewing as team grows

• Orient new employees concerning policies and procedures, work rules, and individual position responsibilities and performance expectation levels.

• Clearly communicates targets and expectations to employees and maintains an environment that motivates workers to achieve project and company goals.

• Works closely with other departments to efficiently coordinate resources to support project requirements.

• Actively supports a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and safety.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• 4+ years of experience leading quality engineering activities, preferably within a metal fabrication or manufacturing environment involving processes such as forming, welding, machining, and related fabrication activities.

• 5+ years of quality assurance experience involving areas such as document management/control, mechanical or weld inspection, nondestructive testing (NDT), auditing, and quality system compliance.

• Associate or Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Science, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline preferred.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to use basic scheduling and planning tools to coordinate inspections, testing, and other quality activities.

• Proficiency with handheld inspection and measurement equipment, including calipers, micrometers, bore gauges, steel rules, tape measures, and similar tools.

• Strong ability to read and interpret fabrication and construction specifications, engineering drawings, and blueprints related to fabrication, welding, machining, sheet metal, and piping.

• Working knowledge of quality documentation requirements and applicable AWS and ASME codes and standards.

• Familiarity with process improvement and continuous improvement methodologies, tools, and techniques.

• Working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).

• Ability to identify, investigate, and correct discrepancies within quality assurance documentation and records.

• Ability to prepare reports, correspondence, and other quality documentation clearly and accurately.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, project management, fabrication, inspection, and document control functions and represent ATG professionally.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, OTHER:

AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) preferred.

Lead Auditor Certification preferred.

NDE experience preferred.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

ATG is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

MUST BE A US CITIZEN - In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. ATG is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Why join us? We take care of our people with:

• Competitive salary

• 120 hours of PTO and 8 paid holidays

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Life and disability coverage

• HSA/FSA options

• 401k match

• Wellness programs

• Learning, growth, and development programs

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.