Lead Quality Engineer

What you will do

We’re hiring a Lead Quality Engineer to provide hands-on quality leadership in a manufacturing environment, with a strong focus on customer quality, problem solving, launch readiness, and continuous improvement. This role will partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supplier Quality, and other cross-functional teams to protect the customer, strengthen manufacturing quality, and drive sustainable improvements across the plant. The position is especially important in ensuring strong customer performance, robust APQP/PPAP execution, effective corrective actions, and disciplined application of automotive quality systems and tools.

What Does Success Look Like

• Lead customer quality: Manage customer complaints, warranty analysis, 8D responses, customer scorecards, audits, and escalations while driving timely resolution and customer satisfaction.
• Drive structured problem solving: Lead 8D investigations and root cause analysis, verify corrective-action effectiveness, and eliminate recurring defects through disciplined follow-up.
• Own APQP and PPAP execution: Lead APQP reviews, PPAP submissions, PFMEA reviews, Control Plan development, and launch-readiness activities to support successful product and process launches.
• Improve manufacturing quality performance: Drive measurable improvements in scrap, First Pass Yield, internal PPM, rework, and process capability using data and statistical quality methods.
• Provide technical and team leadership: Mentor Quality Engineers, provide technical guidance and training, lead quality projects, and participate in quality councils and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strengthen audit and quality-system execution: Support and lead internal, process, layered process, customer, and certification audits; ensure corrective actions are completed and sustained in alignment with IATF requirements.
• Support supplier quality: Review supplier PPM, manage SCARs, support supplier development, and analyze incoming quality issues to improve supplier performance and reduce manufacturing risk.
• Apply advanced quality tools: Use PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, GR&R, Cp/Cpk, Pp/Ppk, DOE, and statistical validation to improve process control, capability, and decision-making.

What we look for

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, with demonstrated quality experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, 8D/root cause analysis, MSA/SPC, and IATF 16949 quality-system requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead customer quality activities, manufacturing quality improvements, audits, corrective actions, and cross-functional problem-solving initiatives.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and mentoring skills, with the ability to influence teams and translate quality data into sustainable improvements.

Preferred

• Quality-related certification or formal training such as CQE, Six Sigma, or IATF/ISO auditor certification.
• Experience with supplier quality, DOE, statistical validation, process capability analysis, layered process audits, and customer-specific automotive requirements.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future; Clarios will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visas for this opportunity.

What we do here

Tampa - Fully Integrated Plant  

Tampa, Florida is home to a fully integrated plant that manufactures batteries used in cars, boats, motorcycles, and heavy-duty trucks. As a fully integrated plant, we also decorate or label our batteries into the final product for our customers. We opened in 1958 and employ more than 280 people. We operate six days per week. We are actively involved in our local community and give back through Metropolitan Ministries, The United Way and Adopt-A-Road Tampa.  

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What you get:

• Medical, dental and vision care coverage and a 401(k) savings plan with company matching – all starting on date of hire

• Tuition reimbursement, perks, and discounts

• Parental and caregiver leave programs

• All the usual benefits such as paid time off, flexible spending, short-and long-term disability, basic life insurance, business travel insurance, and Employee Assistance Program

• Global market strength and worldwide market share leadership

• HQ location earns LEED certification for sustainability plus a full-service cafeteria and workout facility

• Clarios has been recognized as one of 2026's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. This prestigious recognition marks the fourth consecutive year Clarios has received this distinction.

Who we are:
Clarios is the force behind the world’s most recognizable car battery brands, powering vehicles from leading automakers like Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. With 18,000 employees worldwide, we develop, manufacture, and distribute energy storage solutions while recovering, recycling, and reusing up to 99% of battery materials—setting the standard for sustainability in our industry. At Clarios, we’re not just making batteries; we’re shaping the future of sustainable transportation. Join our mission to innovate, push boundaries, and make a real impact. Discover your potential at Clarios—where your power meets endless possibilities.

Veterans/Military Spouses:
We value the leadership, adaptability, and technical expertise developed through military service. At Clarios, those capabilities thrive in an environment built on grit, ingenuity, and passion—where you can grow your career while helping to power progress worldwide. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to protected characteristics.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please apply. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to challenging the status quo. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or other protected characteristics protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to not discriminating against any applicant or employee based on these protected statuses. We will also take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process by emailing [email protected]. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity in our teams in terms of work experience, area of expertise, and all characteristics protected by laws in the countries where we operate. For more information on our commitment to sustainability, diversity, and equal opportunity, please read our latest report. We want you to know your rights because EEO is the law.

A Note to Job Applicants: please be aware of scams being perpetrated through the Internet and social media platforms. Clarios will never require a job applicant to pay money as part of the application or hiring process.

To All Recruitment Agencies: Clarios does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Clarios employees or any other company location. Clarios is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.