Quality Plant Engineering Leader Job Description

 

Job Purpose: In order to guarantee customer satisfaction, including warranty results in-field and the plant efficiency, the Quality Plant Engineering Leader (QPEL) leads/supports the warranty convergence within their perimeter, leads/supports the manufacturing plant internal quality convergence, supports Supplier Quality within plant perimeter, and manages the product/process evolutions in serial life (mass production and windows), as well as supports plant launch activities.

 

Location: The Quality Plant Engineering Leader (QPEL) is expected to maintain a daily on-site presence at the plant to ensure effective operational support and coordination.

 

Reporting Structure: The Quality Plant Engineering Leader (QPEL) is a direct report to the designated leadership function within Product Development Team (PDT) meta-function – which may vary by organization – and has a dotted line report to the Quality Plant Engineering Manager (QPEM) or Quality Plant Manager (QPM) in Mechanical Plants; while strategically aligned with PDT, the QPEL receives primary operational guidance and day-to-day direction from the QPEM and QPM.

They supervise the Quality Plant Engineering (QPE) team in charge of their perimeter, where QPEs are available.

 

Principle Relationships

Main working relationships – With Whom? Why? (Correspondence Frequency)

Daily Operational Production interface with Quality Plant Manager (QPM) and their team, Control Tower, and Manufacturing Operations, to address quality issues in serial life and windows. Daily operational supervision of QPE to drive skills development, training, and growth of competency, if applicable. Weekly cadence with Manufacturing Chief Engineer (Change Management Leader in Mechanical Plants) and QPE to manage product/process evolutions in serial life (running changes and windows). Regular meetings with their Quality Meta-function/Hierarchical Manager (minimum 1/month) Regular meetings with cross-functional team, including PDT, Cross Car Line and Project (CCLP), MFG/VPE/GAPE, SQ, to expedite progress of 7 diamonds projects. Support supplier quality performance monitoring and issue resolution through data tracking, action plan validation, cross-functional coordination (including Supplier Obeya), and escalation processes, while ensuring follow-up of non-conformities Regular meetings with PDT and Industrialization teams to support the progress during launch, as needed Regular interactions with Dealership Networks, in conjunction with Control Tower, to support warranty improvement activities and issue resolution For Mechanical Plants, regular meetings with Propulsion Chief Engineers in charge of their components and Propulsions Serial Life Quality Managers (SLQMs) to support warranty improvement activities and issue resolution

 

Operational Context

 

Quality Plant Engineering Leader (QPEL):

Represents the Voice of the Customer in the Manufacturing Plants, driving proposals for product/process modifications Contributes to improving the quality of 0kM and customer vehicles, drives continuous improvement, and strives to achieves their KPI targets within their perimeter Needs great responsiveness in order to achieve quality and production targets Supports the QPEM to propose hold and market decisions Provides technical support and facilitates discussions with Manufacturing Operations and Suppliers Develops technical plant park rework procedures, in coordination with PDT, to avoid retouch costs and delayed customer delivery Post launch and windows, support retrofit activities to ensure vehicles are updated with correct hardware and software, including

Core Missions and Activities

Main Activities: Build and manage the QPE team’s workload, prioritizing and allocating tasks, where applicable Ensure team efficiency through structured problem solving (5P, 7 Diamond, Kepner-Tregoe, Shainin Red X) Support QPEM in KPI convergence and team coordination (QPM in Mechanical Plants) Conduct skills mapping and succession planning, developed in collaboration with QPEM and QPM Drive triage and resolution of systemic and plant-controllable quality issues within their perimeter In Field Quality Monitoring Achievement of quality KPIs within their assigned perimeter through effective monitoring, escalation, and corrective action implementation Oversee supplier quality engagement, customer feedback loops, and plant dealership networks via Customer and Supplier Obeya Process quality data using tools such as Palantir and Supplier Ticket IT tools Timely completion of warranty claims analyses, part analyses, and part reports by their team Technical documentation and support for Yard Holds and Product Related Issues (PRIs), including coordinating Process Sign-Off and Inspection/Rework Procedure completion, supporting daily technical calls, and expediting the 7 diamonds For Mechanical Plants, coordinate with Chief Engineers and Serial Life Quality Manager (SLQM) to validate field issues and ensure timely containment and resolution Support the deployment of field campaigns in coordination with Control Tower Suppliers Relationship Participate in Supplier Obeya and coordinate with supply chain and purchasing. Ensure traceability of breakpoints in tools (PLM/GIMs/Supplier Issue Management IT tools) related to supplier and manufacturing issues within the Stellantis facilities Pilot suppliers for rollback and containment in case of non-conformities Validate supplier action plans and Internal Quality Improvement Ensure quality management of sensitive processes within their perimeter (e.g., torque, noise, geometry, sealing, EOL test monitoring, etc.) by achieving Plant Quality Indicators through effective monitoring, timely escalation, and implementation of corrective actions – responsibilities may vary on regional requirements between Manufacturing and Quality Support the implementation and maintenance of process and product controls to meet vehicle and system functional objectives (e.g., ADAS, BSR, FEA). For Mechanical QPEL, this includes final assembly standards such as machining, leak tests, cold tests, and torque to turn. Support the plant in securing production by Assisting with Diamond 1-4 summaries (internal and supplier NCs) Leading rollback actions with suppliers in case of confirmed NCs Implementing containment or rework solutions to protect the customer Formalizing and handing over redesign remedies (Diamonds 5-7) Ensure feedback and lessons learned are communicated to the Design team (e.g., design for manufacturing issues) Ensure adherence of manufacturing quality standards and technical requirements that affect their perimeter Be a guarantor of the robustness of the plant monitoring plan: Implement and relay the monitoring plan. Facilitate performance of control/rework stations. Conduct Layered Process Audits (LPA) and plant maturity audits, and track reconvergence actions

Position Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology from an accredited university (other Engineering degrees, in combination with relevant experience may be considered) Minimum of 8 years of related experience Previous experience in Engineering Department, Vehicle/mechanic Plant or Project team Ability to lead an Engineering team to deliver product changes and launches on time Experience with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and corrective actions Effective communication skills, both written and verbal from High Level Meetings down to the Shop Floor Ability to work off shift hours as necessary Self-motivated and directed Ability to thrive in a high intensity environment while working on multiple projects Rigorous and pragmatic Languages: plant language & English

Preferred Requirements

Master’s Degree Green belt World Class Manufacturing Experience