Sr. Quality Engineer

Role: Sr. Quality Engineer

Location: Van Buren Township, Michigan 

Role ID: 2026-3384

Salary: $85,000 – $100,000 annually

Ricardo is seeking an experienced Sr. Quality Engineer to join our Performance Products division. This is a key role supporting a New Product Introduction (NPI) program across a diverse portfolio of niche, high-performance products for a premium global brand.

Role Overview

The Senior Quality Engineer serves as the primary quality representative for customers and internal stakeholders, leading quality assurance, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This role is responsible for ensuring adherence to customer requirements, IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and Quality Management System (QMS) standards while driving operational excellence and problem resolution.

As the lead for APQP and PPAP activities, the Senior Quality Engineer partners cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to support product launches, mitigate risk, and resolve quality concerns. This role requires strong expertise in automotive or advanced manufacturing environments, a solid understanding of quality core tools, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels to improve quality, customer satisfaction, and business performance.

Essential Duties

• Serve as the primary customer contact for quality-related matters, ensuring customer requirements and expectations are met.
• Lead and facilitate Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities, ensuring all quality deliverables are completed on time and to required standards.
• Maintain compliance with customer-specific requirements, IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and internal Quality Management System (QMS) standards through the development, review, and maintenance of quality documentation, processes, and procedures.
• Monitor, track, and report quality performance metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and customer quality concerns.
• Investigate customer, supplier, manufacturing, and internal quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the organization to improve product quality, process performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain and update quality documentation, including PFMEAs, Process Flow Diagrams, Control Plans, work instructions, and related production records.
• Support Quality Management System initiatives, audits, and compliance activities, including conducting product and process audits as required.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and other departments to resolve quality issues and achieve business objectives.
• Provide guidance, training, and support to team members to promote quality best practices and a culture of continuous improvement.

Additional Features of the Role

• This role offers exposure to all areas of the business, working collaboratively with all functions to drive and deliver improvement.
• The nature of the role offers the opportunity to influence our processes and ways of working by identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective action
• Mentoring of quality team and other staff members

Essential Technical and Professional Qualifications

• Relevant engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification and/or experience
• Experienced in automotive, marine or similar manufacturing
• Problem solving techniques and knowledge of continual improvement
• Strong organizational skills and able to meet deadlines
• Good level of IT skills, particularly MS Excel, Word & PowerPoint
• Awareness of IATF 16949:2016 and ISO9001:2015
• Understanding of core tools such as PPAP, APQP, FMEA, MSA and SPC

Preferred Qualifications

• Working to IATF:16949 2016 standards
• Experience with internal audit
• Power BI database
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) experience
• Automotive or marine powertrain manufacturing

Behavioral Competencies

• High personal standards of integrity and the drive to achieve a robust solution
• Comfortable communicator - ability to communicate effectively with engineering and operational staff, from shop floor to senior management level, including with external clients and suppliers
• Proactive in leading investigations and resolving issues – confidence in delivering tasks on time and to a high standard
• Organized, with an ability to multi-task - Able to assess, prioritize and respond with absolute urgency to serious issues, should they arise
• Competent user of Microsoft Office software suite

Working Here

At Ricardo, every voice matters. We foster inclusion, collaboration, and a culture where your expertise makes a difference. Your ideas will help us deliver innovative solutions that contribute to safer and more sustainable communities worldwide.

Work-Life Balance

We are open to discussing flexible work arrangements. Well-being is at the heart of our culture, enabling everyone to thrive. By prioritizing a healthy work-life balance, we create an environment where everyone can flourish and reach their full potential.

Benefits

We value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your physical and mental well-being.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Ricardo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other legally protected statuses.

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