Job Summary:

The Senior Quality Engineer is responsible for leading quality engineering activities at Milton Manufacturing, a precision manufacturer of components for military vehicle programs and automotive customers operating in a low-volume, prototype-driven environment. This role builds and owns Milton’s Quality Management System (QMS), drives ISO 9001:2015 certification, establishes shop-floor quality procedures and inspection controls, and ensures products and processes meet company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None, though this role mentors and provides technical directions to production and quality staff on inspection methods and quality procedures.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Quality Management System & Certification

• Leads the design, documentation, and implementation of Milton’s Quality Management System in alignment with ISO 9001:2015, including the Quality Manual, document control procedures, internal audit program, and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) process.
• Serves as management representative for ISO 9001 certification efforts, including readiness assessments, gap analysis, and coordination with external certification auditors.
• Establishes and maintains a structured internal audit schedule covering processes, product lines, and supplier quality.
• Builds a roadmap toward AS9100 readiness to support military vehicle program requirements, and IATF 16949 awareness for automotive customer programs.
• Ensures compliance with defense industry standards and regulations (e.g., ITAR, AS9100, ISO).

Shop-Floor Quality Implementation

• Develops, implements, and maintains quality plans, work instructions, inspection checkpoints, and standard operating procedures at each workstation across the shop.
• Establishes First Article Inspection (FAI) procedures for new and revised parts, appropriate to a prototype/low-volume production environment, including IMDS reports and dimensional scanning.
• Implements and maintains a nonconforming material process and Material Review Board (MRB) disposition workflow.
• Owns the gauge and tooling calibration program, ensuring measurement equipment is controlled, traceable, and audit ready.
• Implements configuration and engineering change control to ensure the correct print revision is built and traceable for every job.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Conducts root cause analysis for product and process non-conformances and leads corrective and preventive action using structured methods (8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone, FMEA).
• Monitors key quality metrics and analyzes inspection data to identify trends, risks, and process improvement opportunities, reducing scrap and rework.
• Mentors’ production and quality staff on inspection methods, GD&T interpretation, and quality procedures.
• Supports production and engineering teams in resolving quality issues and improving processes, including new product introductions and process changes with risk assessments and quality planning.

Supplier & Customer Quality

• Performs audits, inspections, and quality assessments of products, materials, and suppliers; collaborates with suppliers to resolve quality issues and maintain supplier quality standards.
• Serves as the quality point of contact for military and automotive customer audits, quality flow-down requirements, and contractual quality obligations.
• Reviews engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing documentation for quality compliance.
• Maintains documentation and records required for defense contract compliance, including support for export control (ITAR/EAR) recordkeeping as applicable.
• Prepares quality metrics and reporting for leadership and customer reviews.
• Performs other duties as assigned.