Senior Manager - Quality Engineering

Job DescriptionJob Description

IEM is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom electrical distribution and power quality equipment in North America. Formed in 1957, IEM has delivered customer-specific solutions to meet the ever-changing power requirements of growth industries in North America for over half a century.

At IEM, we’re not just growing – we're thriving! Our rapid expansion means new opportunities are always on the horizon. If you’re someone who gets excited by making an impact through interesting challenges, you’ll feel right at home.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Senior Manager - Quality Engineering is a high-impact operational leader responsible for leading the campus quality organization and driving enterprise-level improvements in product, process, and system quality. This role will own the deployment of quality assurance strategies, support Quality Management System (QMS) compliance, and foster a culture of operational excellence and accountability. The successful candidate will bring a strong results , deep quality engineering expertise, and a passion for structured problem-solving and continuous improvement.

This position is the primary quality partner to operations, engineering, supply chain, and customer-facing teams — ensuring that quality is embedded throughout the value stream and that systemic improvements translate into measurable business performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Campus Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the site-wide quality organization, including quality engineering, inspection, systems, and compliance teams.
• Set clear goals, KPIs, and development plans for the quality team; build a performance-based culture focused on accountability, responsiveness, and impact.
• Serve as the senior voice of quality at the campus level, reporting directly to plant and divisional leadership with data-driven insights and risk-based recommendations.

Operational Excellence & Defect Reduction

• Drive execution of proactive quality assurance strategies that reduce defects, rework, warranty cost, and customer complaints.
• Champion a data-driven mindset using internal and external quality metrics (e.g., DPPM, FPY, COPQ) to identify priorities and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Integrate quality into all facets of operations—production, material handling, maintenance—through daily tier reviews, process audits, and LPA programs.

Quality Engineering & Problem Solving

• Lead root cause and corrective action processes using formal tools: 8D, A3, 5-Why, Fishbone, and DOE.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineering to ensure process capability (CP/CPK), control plan effectiveness, gage R&R (MSA), and PFMEA are in place and actively used.
• Drive poka-yoke (error-proofing), containment strategies, and long-term corrective measures that eliminate recurrence of issues.

Compliance & QMS Oversight

• Maintain and improve compliance with ISO 9001 and customer-specific requirements; support audit readiness and documentation control.
• Ensure robust non-conformance handling, MRB processes, and effective execution of CARs and RMAs.
• Support QMS documentation, procedures, and continuous readiness for external audits and certifications (UL, CSA, etc.).

Cross-Functional Quality Integration

• Embed quality ownership into engineering, production, and supply chain teams through structured engagement, clear expectations, and proactive partnership.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI) reviews, process validations, and design-for-manufacturing assessments.
• Support supplier development, qualification, and issue resolution through effective inspection plans and supplier corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement & Results Focus

• Lead kaizen and continuous improvement events focused on quality and process yield improvement.
• Deploy Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and drive measurable business results.
• Develop and implement layered dashboards to monitor quality trends, corrective action status, and cost savings related to quality improvements.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field (Master’s )
• 10+ years of progressive experience in quality and operations within a manufacturing environment; 4+ years in a leadership capacity
• Demonstrated success in leading campus or multi-function quality teams with a track record of delivering measurable results
• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, QMS audits, and regulatory compliance; UL, CSA, or IPC experience is a plus
• Certifications : Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ CQE or CQM/OE
• Hands-on experience with quality engineering tools: FMEA, SPC, MSA, control plans, PPAP
• ERP and quality system proficiency (Infor Syteline, QCS, ETQ Reliance, or equivalent)
• Strong problem-solving, facilitation, and leadership skills with a results-driven mindset
• Experience in electro-mechanical, low-volume/high-complexity manufacturing environments strongly