Quality Engineer

Position Overview

As a Quality Engineer at Irwin, you will be responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of our products and processes through rigorous inspections, implementation of quality control measures, and identification of areas for improvement. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams using a human-centered design approach to address quality issues, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to building high-quality products that exceed customer expectations. The role requires a strong background in engineering or quality assurance, exceptional attention to detail, and a proactive, collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality control systems and procedures aligned with organizational standards.
• Conduct audits and inspections to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation of quality processes, procedures, and reports.
• Participate in PFMEAs and DFMEAs; own and maintain the control plan for team execution.

Production & Process Support

• Monitor and support production processes to ensure adherence to quality standards and specifications.
• Provide visible, consistent support on the production floor and participate in daily cross-functional production walks.
• Investigate root causes of quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce reoccurrence.
• Support quality during product launches, including participation in design meetings, pilot runs, safe launch activities, and transition to production.

Supplier & Material Quality

• Collaborate with supply chain and engineering to ensure quality requirements are met for purchased materials.
• Support supplier development activities, including issuing SCARs and guiding suppliers in their execution.
• Inspect incoming product materials for defects, durability, and compliance with specifications.

Continuous Improvement & Collaboration

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing processes and build quality into products.
• Partner with engineering to design and implement check fixtures/gauges for products.
• Ensure proper testing of new and existing products to meet performance and safety standards.
• Actively collaborate across functions and locations to share learnings and support enterprise-wide quality goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quality Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field from a four-year college or university; or 5+ years relevant experience in manufacturing
• Experience with wood, upholstery, welding and/or assembly operations preferred
• Working Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or quality software experience preferred..
• In-depth knowledge and practice of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA processes are a plus
• Human Centered Design experience preferred
• Continuous improvement experience preferred, such as Kaizen
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with both internal and external partners
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to effectively present information to leadership and external partners.
• Ability to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Why Irwin?

Founded in 1907, Irwin Seating is a fourth-generation, family-owned company with locations in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Altamont, Illinois. We bring people together to learn, create, and share meaningful experiences both within our teams and in the spaces we design. You’ll be part of a people-first team that believes in collaboration, growth, and doing the right thing. Here, you can build a career you love while growing alongside a company that feels like family.

Compensation: The base salary range for this full-time position is $70,000 - $90,000. Within this range, individual pay is determined based on several factors, including but not limited to: relevant work experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and complexity of the role.

FLSA Status: Exempt