Quality Assurance Engineer

Description

ABOUT THE COMPANY: JOST International began as a small business in the early 1980s, where we submitted the patent application for the very first steel cast fifth wheel coupling. Since our start in Grand Haven, Michigan, JOST International has grown to become a world market leader for fifth wheels and landing gear and an international supplier for the commercial trucking industry. Though we’ve grown through the years, JOST International is proud to retain the same values and principles that launched our business decades ago — a dedication to safety and continuous innovation, and above all, a close relationship with our customers and our employees.

JOST International is a leading Tier 1 supplier in the automotive industry, specializing in innovative solutions for the commercial truck, trailer, and agriculture markets. Our commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement has established us as a trusted partner to OEMs and major industry players. 

POSITION OVERVIEW: This position reports to Quality Control Manager. It is solely accountable for the fulfillment of all assigned duties and has authority delegated commensurate with assigned responsibilities. This position plans, schedules, conducts or coordinates detailed phases of product layout, MSA, control plans, process capability, and product testing. Is responsible to assist in PFMEA and other APQP tasks as well as participate in internal corrective actions ensuring completed action plans. The QAE is charged to work closely with other departments to perform internal continuous improvement projects. Also completes work that involves performing precise and accurate conventional part layout, process/product audits as well as the evaluation of returned products. Performs a variety of other Quality Assurance functions as assigned.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: Include, but are not limited to:

a) Conducts product testing that is required to support PPAP, engineering, product design, and process validation.

b) Support engineering with ECN implementation and APQP development to include ensuring PFMEA, control plan, and work instructions coincide.

c) Perform dimensional measurement, product layout inspections, and product validation activities to support capability studies, measurement system analyses (MSA), process validation, and product validation requirements

d) Responsible to ensure the quality of the products shipped to the customer meet customer expectation and Jost design requirements.

e) Lead the creation of production control plans/PFMEA in order to coordinate manufacturing and quality process controls to ensure customer satisfaction.

f) Lead quality planning and validation activities for new equipment launches, automation projects, and manufacturing process changes. Define, execute, and approve process validation activities including capability studies, Run-at-Rate trials, and production readiness assessments.

g) Develop and maintain statistical process control (SPC) methodologies, monitor process capability (Cp/Cpk/Ppk), and drive corrective actions for processes that fail to meet established targets.

h) Support implementation, validation, and ongoing monitoring of automated inspection systems, including AI vision systems, camera-based inspection equipment, sensors, and error-proofing (Poka-Yoke) devices.

i) Establish acceptance criteria, challenge testing methods, and revalidation requirements for automated inspection systems to ensure detection effectiveness and system reliability.

j) Analyze production, inspection, and quality data to identify trends, emerging risks, and opportunities for process improvement.

k) Lead root cause analysis investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and DMAIC.

l) Participate in cross-functional manufacturing improvement projects focused on reducing variation, improving capability, and increasing overall process effectiveness.

m) Develop quality standards and reaction plans for critical manufacturing processes and automated inspection equipment.

n) Support internal, customer, and third-party audits and lead corrective actions related to audit findings.

o) Create and maintain inspection standards, quality procedures, validation reports, and supporting documentation in accordance with customer and company requirements.

p) Any additional duties that have not been specifically stated, but which may be assigned and those that are logically and properly inherent to this position.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS: 

a) Quality Engineering degree, ASQ CQE Certification or equivalent experience.

b) Minimum 3-5 years of Quality Engineering experience in a automotive manufacturing environment.

c) Preferred experience supporting implementation, validation, and ongoing monitoring of machine vision and automated inspection systems, including AI-driven inspection technologies.

d) Experience with measuring devices (i.e. CMM/ FARO, calipers, height gages, etc.).

e) Understands ISO 9001 and AIAG core tool standards (MSA, APQP, PPAP, Control plans, FMEA).

f) Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

g) Strong analytical, math and computer skills. Microsoft Office with Excel at an intermediate level. 

h) Ability to gain knowledge of products, market requirements, customer requirements and industry.

i) Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, customer specifications, and testing requirements.

j) Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

k) Experience using quality and manufacturing software systems for data collection, reporting, and analysis.

l) Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification preferred.

m) Ability to comply with quality, environmental and safety policies and procedures plus the ability to learn understand, interpret and abide by JOST Basic Processes.

n) Capable of working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

o) Highly dependable, motivated and self-driven with excellent attendance.

p) Ability to consistently and on a daily basis as required to safely; sit, stand, stoop, bend, twist, reach and kneel with the ability to lift up to 51# pounds safely and correctly.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

a) Work is performed in a manufacturing setting.  

b) While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to; walk, stand, see, hear, use hands, reach, stoop, bend, twist, and occasionally will be required to lift or move objects which weigh a minimum of 1# pounds to a maximum 51# pounds with or without assistance.