Lead Quality Engineer – Orion Assembly Job at General Motors (Lake Orion)

Job Description

The Lead Quality Engineer is responsible for the overall planning, direction, and performance of the Quality Engineering team supporting vehicle on Orion-built vehicles. This leader dynamically prioritizes team focus between Vehicle Quality (VOC, warranty, DRR, FTQ) and production floor issues, ensuring timely resolution of plant, supplier, and VAA-driven concerns. The role acts as the primary liaison between Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, VAA partners, and Product Engineering, while building a high-performing Quality Engineering organization aligned to BIQ/GMS and GM quality strategies.

Job Responsibility

Own the strategic direction and day-to-day execution for the Quality Engineering team
Develop and manage a commodity coverage strategy across exterior, interior, and chassis systems to ensure robust support for current production and launch programs
Dynamically allocate workload and priorities across the team to respond quickly to urgent plant issues and emerging vehicle quality trends
Follow and enforce all site safety guidelines and GM safety policies
Urgently drive resolution of identified safety and ergonomic issues impacting team members and production operators
Lead and manage a team of salaried Quality Engineers covering exterior, interior, or chassis commodities (including VAA/module interfaces where applicable)
Set clear expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and support individual development plans
Develop and maintain the team's commodity coverage strategy
manage vacation and absence planning to ensure coverage
Build technical capability through Red X Technical Problem Solving, Design For Six Sigma (DFSS), BIQ & GMS compliance, quality skills assessments, and other professional certifications/training
Lead and coach structured problem solving (Red X, 7 Diamonds, SPPS, 5‑Why, Fishbone) on high-impact issues
ensure methods are applied consistently by the team
Develop and implement Workplace of Choice initiatives to strengthen engagement, inclusion, and retention
Ensure workplace organization standards (5S, visual management) are defined and maintained for the Quality Engineering team
Act as primary Quality liaison between Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and VAA for propulsion, chassis, and ATM content to ensure vehicle quality and reliability
Champion advanced problem solving and drive closure of commodity-related Voice of Customer (VOC), DRR, FTQ, and warranty issues
Ensure issues are documented in Problem Resolution Tracking System (PRTS) and driven through the Current Product Improvement Team (CPIT) process to robust root cause and irreversible corrective action
Ensure supplier-responsible issues are captured and managed in Supplier Practical Problem Solving (SPPS) and coordinate with Manufacturing, Suppliers, and GM Supplier Quality for resolution
Support and govern the Assembly Plant Change Management process for assigned commodities (ECRs, PTRs, tooling and process changes), including risk assessment, validation strategies, breakpoints, and documentation updates
Communicate Emerging Issues summaries for responsible systems and ensure clear read-across and Lessons Learned to Engineering, Validation, and Quality organizations
Oversee team support for yard sweeps, development of inspection methods and standards, and Repair/Rework/Containment activities for identified spills
Ensure timely, high-quality responses to Supplier Action Center (SAC) requests and manufacturing floor concerns for assigned commodities
Oversee validation of suspect/reject part disposition, ensuring robust criteria and traceability
Govern team participation in the Production Trial Run (PTR) process, ensuring thorough documentation of product concerns and clear pass/fail feedback
Support implementation and closure of supplier Controlled Shipping activities, ensuring risk is contained and lessons are embedded into PFMEA/PCP/standardized work
Facilitate supplier visits to the manufacturing facility and ensure effective technical discussions and follow-up
Lead or ensure representation in Quality Engineering standard meetings, plant quality reviews, and Fast Response sessions for interior, exterior, or chassis issues
Drive timely resolution of ergonomics and quality issues tied to supplier and engineering changes impacting the plant floor
Ensure Quality Engineering presence at manufacturing quality issue review meetings for relevant commodities
Support First Time Quality (FTQ) improvement initiatives and BIQ roadmap execution
Ensure all assigned PRTS issues are completed through root cause and irreversible corrective action within agreed timing
Ensure effective management of salary attendance and overtime within the team, aligning resources to business priorities
Champion warranty reduction initiatives related to interior, exterior or chassis content, using field data and plant metrics to prioritize actions
Oversee Supplier Cost Recovery for financial impact associated with supplier quality issues, ensuring accurate documentation and timely execution

Requirements

Four-year degree in Engineering or other related technical discipline, or equivalent experience
5+ years of experience in manufacturing, quality, or engineering
Demonstrated technical and professional skills in job-related areas (e.g., quality, manufacturing, product engineering)
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, ideally in automotive assembly and/or propulsion/chassis systems
Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including executive-ready summaries
High level of analytical and decision-making ability where problems are unusual and complex
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across functions and levels
Proven Managerial Courage and Customer Focus
Demonstrated ability to build effective teams and develop direct reports

Nice to have

Graduate-level degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
Prior people leadership / team management experience
Quality Engineering and/or Supplier Quality experience
Manufacturing production floor experience in an automotive environment
Experience with automotive product design, particularly propulsion or chassis systems
Red X Technical Problem Solving and Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) certifications
Capability in body dimensional analysis, GD&T, and part data analysis

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Lead Quality Engineer – Orion Assembly

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