Quality Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Nylon Quality Engineer is a critical member of the Quality team responsible for ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction within Ascend’s nylon manufacturing operations. This role oversees audits, product certifications, and process control while driving continuous improvement initiatives across production and supply chain functions. The engineer will work cross-functionally with operations, supply chain, and customers to uphold ISO and regulatory standards. Success in this role requires strong leadership, technical proficiency in quality systems, and a proactive approach to problem-solving and communication. The position plays a key role in both sustaining current performance and building future capabilities for the Nylon business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSH

• Demonstrate leadership for the area safety proactivity process through active participation in the Site Safety Programs. 

Quality/Customer Satisfaction

• Manage the timely review of manufactured materials for acceptable quality and disposition sub-quality materials to appropriate off grade categories
• Participate on the Internal Audit team to conduct process, product, management system, and supplier audits.
• Complete customer PPAPs, surveys, audits, specification re-certifications, and other requests.
• Identify, develop, and implement quality improvement projects to support internal and external customers.
• Identify and implement changes to product specifications or certification requirements to improve customer satisfaction or more accurately reflect process capability.
   

Operations

• Ensure adequate and effective communications of the Production Plan to the Operations Team via QA team participation in routine (daily) area operations meetings.
• Facilitate updating of FMEA and control plans for the nylon operating areas
• Ensure consistent and effective communications between scheduling, tolling operations, warehousing shipping and other Nylon teams to allow for the successful execution of the Production Plan.
   

Process Improvement

• Participate in and ensure adequate QA Team representation in the development of facilities/process improvement projects to ensure effective operations.
• Collaborate with SQEs and manufacturing engineers to monitor quality performance across all the lines (SPC / control charting, CpK, on-time, customer complaints, etc.) to identify process improvement opportunities.
• Monitoring and updating of control limits for nylon contamination parameters

Relationship Effort

• Promote employee engagement, teamwork and innovation.
• Frequent engagement with customers and other areas of the organization
• Frequent interface with other functions both within the site and other business functions, including business management and Supply Chain to gain support for QA Team needs.
• Responsible for routinely communicating QA Team performance within the area, site, and business.
• Responsible for interfacing with customers during customer site visits and effectively representing Nylon and company interests.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Bachelors degree in Engineering discipline, and at least 3 years of progressive experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting, with increasing responsibility in quality engineering, process engineering, or operations roles.
• Knowledge of area, site, corporate, and regulatory ESSH requirements
• Knowledge and experience in a nylon manufacturing area is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of quality systems (ISO9001, ISO17025, and IATF16949) and requirements – able to ensure consistency of operations within the established quality system guidelines.
• Knowledge of Supply Chain processes - can support logistics processes and aid in decision making.
• Knowledge of accounting practices (including familiarity with SAP)
• Knowledge of and experience with public presentation – ability to present an effective and professional image of the Nylon Team to customers and other visitors (internal and external).
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to positively influence at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to execute and respond quickly to a variety of requests.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.