Quality Engineer

Woodstock, Illinois | Quality / Operations | Reports to: Management | Employment type: [TBC]

About the role

Alubend USA does custom aluminum profile bending, forming, machining and fabrication for aerospace, defense, automotive and industrial customers. We run our business on an AI-driven ERP system and are implementing ISO 9001 at our US site. We’re looking for a hands-on Quality Engineer who is as comfortable at the surface plate as at the keyboard. You’ll inspect parts in the factory, run our audits, produce all of your own quality documentation, and use AI extensively to work faster.

What you’ll do

Quality systems and audits

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• Maintain and improve our quality management system to ISO 9001 and AS9100 requirements
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• Plan and carry out internal audits, and lead the site through customer and third-party certification audits
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• Own nonconformance reports, root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys, fishbone) and corrective and preventive actions through to closure
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• Manage document control, calibration records, traceability and supplier quality
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Customer requirements and planning

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• Review customer inquiries, RFQs, drawings and purchase orders for quality requirements, working with estimating before we quote or accept an order
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• Create quality plans, control plans, inspection plans and process FMEAs for new parts and processes
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• Prepare and submit PPAP packages
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• Prepare first article inspection (FAI) reports to AS9102
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• Manage material certificates, certificates of conformity and customer-specific requirements
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Hands-on inspection

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• Work on the shop floor every day, supporting production, signing off first-offs and in-process checks, and doing final inspection
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• Inspect bent, formed and machined aluminum parts using the full range of measuring equipment, including:
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• calipers, micrometers, height gauges and bore gauges
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• radius gauges, thread gauges and profile templates
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• checking fixtures and surface plate setups
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• Verify aluminum temper and material properties with hardness and conductivity testing
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• Program and run CMM inspections, or portable arm and 3D scanning inspections, where required
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• Design and validate inspection fixtures and gauging with engineering
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• Train operators in inspection methods and good measurement practice
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AI and digital tools

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• Use company-approved AI tools extensively to:
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• draft and maintain procedures, work instructions, quality plans and audit reports
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• build FAI and PPAP documentation from drawings and inspection data
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• analyze inspection data, find trends and support root cause investigations
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• prepare for audits by checking our records against the requirements of each standard
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• Check all AI output against drawings, standards and measured results before it’s released
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• Never put ITAR-controlled, export-controlled or customer-confidential data into AI tools or systems that aren’t approved for it
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• Help build and improve the AI-driven quality workflows in our ERP
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What you’ll bring

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• Proven experience as a quality engineer in a manufacturing environment
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• A thorough working knowledge of ISO 9001 and AS9100
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• Direct experience of internal, customer and third-party certification audits
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• Experience preparing PPAP submissions and AS9102 first article inspection reports
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• Experience creating quality plans, control plans and inspection plans
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• Strong understanding of measurement methods and of every common inspection tool, plus gauge calibration and MSA/Gauge R&R
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• Confidence reading engineering drawings and GD&T
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• A hands-on approach: you’re happy on the factory floor, and you produce and maintain all of your own documentation
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• Regular, practical use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot in a work setting
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• Understanding of ITAR and export-control responsibilities, or the ability to learn them quickly
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• Strong Excel skills, plus experience with ERP or quality management software
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• Clear written and verbal communication with customers, auditors and shop-floor staff
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Nice to have

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• CMM programming and operation (PC-DMIS, Calypso or similar)
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• Portable CMM arm or 3D scanning experience, such as FARO or Hexagon
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• Aluminum extrusion, bending, forming, heat treatment or machining experience
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• ISO 9001 or AS9100 lead auditor certification, or internal auditor training
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• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Inspector (CQI)
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• Experience with IATF 16949 or the automotive core tools (APQP, FMEA, SPC)
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• Experience in an ITAR-registered or defense-supply environment
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Eligibility: This position requires access to technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants must be a U.S. person, defined as a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3). Successful applicants will be asked to verify U.S. person status before an offer is confirmed.

Alubend USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.