Advanced Quality Engineer

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a school/employment or any other visa, regardless of expiration date, now or in the future. 

Who Are We?     

The Toro Company is a homegrown, Minnesota-based company that has been in business since 1914. We pride ourselves on providing world-class equipment to help maintain the environment that we love, while putting an emphasis on giving back to the communities that surround us. From residential lawns and gardens, to venues such as St Andrews Links and Target Field, we are a company with a global footprint and a passion for helping people beautify whatever landscape they may be in. With 100 years of operation under our belt and a healthy tenure, come find out what makes The Toro Company the best place in the Twin Cities to build a career. 

Job Purpose:

The AQE Engineer will lead the deployment and execution of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes across The Toro Company. This role is critical in ensuring successful product launches by driving cross-functional collaboration from concept (Toro Gate 1.0) through production release (Toro Gate 5.0). The AQE Engineer will coach and mentor teams, manage key quality deliverables, and ensure alignment with customer expectations and internal KPIs.

What Will You Do?  

Job Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Oversee the completion of APQP deliverable throughout the New Product Development and Design Continuous Improvement stage-gate processes, ensuring alignment with project milestones.

• Support cross-functional teams in meeting key project KPI’s by facilitating and review quality planning activities such as:

• Design and Process FMEA’s (dFMEA, pFMEA)

• PPAP documentation and reviews

• Design Reviews and DPAR (Design, Process, and Assembly Reviews)

• Control Plan Development

• CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) closure

• Prototype and pilot build evaluations

• Readiness for production release  

• Participate in project team meetings and provide quality input to ensure that the quality planning process is followed during the development of new products and maintenance of existing products.

• Collaborate with project teams to effectively convert Voice of the Customer (VOC) insights into clear, actionable engineering specifications that guide product development. 

• Investigate, analysis field failures, review warranty claims, and synthesize data to identify root cause.  Share findings with key stakeholders to support data-driven decisions and ensure project quality KPIs are achieved.  

• Partner with cross-functional project teams to ensure manufacturing requirements are clearly represented and integrated through effective Design for Manufacturing (DFM) practices.

• Create & execute Machine Level Quality Plan (MLQP) with the product development teams to identify key system & subsystem risks and mitigate them.  Identify additional risks inherent in the product design, manufacturing and assembly processes, supplier historical performance, and historical product risks.

• Create & execute Part Level Quality Plans (PLQP) corresponding to the machine BOM’s, set Quality Plan Level (QPL) for PPAP requirements for both internally & externally fulfilled components, with an emphasis on complex systems, high risk or tooled components.

• Develop working relationships with manufacturing and appropriate suppliers to develop, implement, and audit comprehensive quality plans for components, products, and services to ensure they meet the requirements of TTC and its customers.

• Report on the advanced quality planning process, through process monitoring, validation, data analysis, and use of advanced quality plans.

• Lead and participate in corrective actions, preventive actions, and continuous improvement activities; including identification, documenting, tracking, and completion of required activities that may be assigned by product development teams.

• Provide and maintain quality reports, records and plans for the supported product lines, teams, and other associated quality activities.

What Do You Need?

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, Systems Engineering or Industrial Engineering required

• Quality Engineer III: BS degree in STEM and 4-7+ years experience in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and/or Product Development in a manufacturing plant setting is required.  Basic knowledge of APQP, FMEA (design and process), Control Plans, PPAP, CAPA, and Six Sigma

• Quality Engineer IV: BS degree in STEM and 7+ years experience in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and/or Product Development in a manufacturing plant setting is required.  Proficient at APQP, FMEA (design and process), Control Plans, PPAP, CAPA, Six Sigma

• ASQ or AIAG Certifications in the areas of Advanced Quality Engineering, Quality Auditing, or Six Sigma is preferred

• Demonstrated mechanical & electrical aptitude and practical problem solving

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills required

• Capacity to work independently within a team-oriented, collaborative environment

• Ability to work closely with internal and external resources at all levels in the areas of quality planning, risk analysis, corrective action and continuous improvement

• Proven analytical problem-solving experience

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks/deadlines efficiently

• Must be skilled in the use of personal computers with experience in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, CreoView, Windchill and SAP systems

• Able and willing to travel (up to 30%) depending on project

Other Job-Related Components: 

• This role expects individuals to travel to Toro locations up to 30% of the time.

What Can We Give You?     

At The Toro Company, we are always working to make sure our employees know just how valued they are. In addition to a competitive salary, an affordable and top tier medical/dental/vision plan, 401k, and many other great benefits - The Toro company offers employees at our Bloomington, MN

HQ location a variety of perks, including:  

• Dress for your day - We know you're more productive when you're comfortable, which is why TTC employees are encouraged to take advantage of our casual, corporate environment.  

• Location – Conveniently located near both St. Paul and Minneapolis, we are centrally located for most commuters!  

• Food - Take advantage of our onsite café, which serves both breakfast and lunch. With a Caribou Coffee attached, you can grab a snack and a coffee at any time during your day.  

• Wellness - The Toro Company’s HQ offers complimentary use of our onsite fitness facility to employees. In addition to physical wellbeing, TTC offers a variety of mental health and financial health resources to all employees.  

• Volunteerism - The Toro Company is proud to provide employees 20 hours of paid time to volunteer in the community.  

• Summer Hours – Enjoy a flexible schedule during the summer! By working a little more during the first few days of the week, TTC employees at our Bloomington HQ are able to start their weekends early and leave by noon on Friday.  
• Competitive Salary – The pay range takes into account skills, experience, education, and location. It is not common to be hired at or near the top of the range; compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the annual pay range is between ​$96,900​ - ​$139,200,000. Cash compensation is one piece of our competitive total rewards package. You may be eligible to participate in an incentive program, which rewards employees based on individual and organizational performance. Eligibility and award amounts are determined by company policy and performance metrics. If you need to, you can access your pay early with the dailypay app.  

At The Toro Company, we are committed to fostering a secure and trustworthy recruitment experience for our applicants. Recruitment fraud is a growing concern for job seekers, so please be aware that throughout our recruitment process, you’ll never be required to pay any fees or disclose personal financial details when applying to TTC opportunities. All legitimate job opportunities must be applied for directly through our official careers page at jobs.thetorocompany.com or via Workday, our applicant tracking system. 

The Toro Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees.

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