Quality Engineer (Heavy Industrial Manufacturing)
Whatcom County
A local heavy industrial manufacturer is seeking a Quality Engineer to strengthen the connection between the shop floor, documentation, and reporting. In this role, you’ll support and continuously improve the Quality Management System (ISO 9001) while working day-to-day with production, engineering, and document control to ensure long-lead projects are supported by accurate records, strong traceability, and repeatable processes.
The ideal candidate has a background in industrial manufacturing—ideally steel/metals—with hands-on experience in ISO 9001, traceability, inspection planning, and nonconformance/corrective action. NDT experience is a big plus, along with the ability to partner closely with production to keep quality proactive, not a bottleneck.
Quality Engineer Responsibilities:
- Support and improve the QMS (ISO 9001): update procedures, work instructions, and controls; help sustain compliance through practical, shop-friendly processes
- Own day-to-day quality engineering support for production and long-lead projects: data integrity, reporting, and record completeness
- Drive traceability for materials and product (certs/MTRs, lot/heat tracking, travelers/routers, inspection records) and ensure documentation packages are complete and audit-ready
- Plan and coordinate inspections/testing (incoming, in-process, final) and ensure results are captured clearly and consistently
- Lead NCR/MRB/CAPA activities: containment, root cause, corrective and preventive actions; verify effectiveness and close out actions on time
- Investigate defects and trends using data; recommend and implement process controls and continuous improvement actions with production
- Conduct/coordinate internal audits; support customer and supplier audits, including preparation of evidence and responses
- Support supplier quality for long-lead materials: documentation completeness, quality concerns, and corrective action follow-up
- Manage the calibration process and measurement/inspection system controls (gages, instruments, calibration records, out-of-tolerance investigations)
- Partner closely with production leaders and document control to keep quality flowing without slowing down throughput
Quality Engineer Qualifications:
- 5+ years of quality experience in an industrial manufacturing environment (job shop / high-mix / heavy industrial preferred); steel/metals/fabrication experience strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and how to apply QMS requirements in a practical, production-facing way
- Strong documentation and record-control habits (traceability, audit readiness, clear reporting)
- Experience with NCR/MRB/CAPA processes and root-cause/problem-solving methods
- Comfort reading specifications/drawings and translating requirements into inspection approaches and acceptance criteria
- Hands-on, floor-facing style with the ability to build trust with welders/fabricators/production teams
- NDT experience is a plus
- Able to juggle priorities and “pick up where you left off” across long-lead, multi-year projects
Benefits & Appreciation:
- Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision) – 85% paid by employer (for employee + dependent)
- 401k with 4% match
- Generous PTO
- Stable company culture with long-tenured team members and leadership succession planning
Compensation: $130,000 - $160,000+ (DOE)