{"id":1498535,"url":"https://alion.io/job/key-technology-quality-engineering-manager","title":"Quality Engineering Manager","company":{"id":1955738,"name":"Key Technology","domain":"key.net","url":"https://alion.io/company/key-net","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paycom","truth_index":null},"role":"Leadership","role_family":"Leadership","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Walla Walla, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":138000,"max_usd":277000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":789},"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"CAPA","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T02:58:36Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-09-30T12:30:50Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Key Technology in Walla Walla, WA is a worldwide leader in food processing technology. As a global industrial manufacturing company, our ongoing innovations provide increased control, continuous processing, sorting, automated inspection, specialized conveying, and grading and sizing, in processed fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, fresh-cut produce and more.\nPOSITION SUMMARY\nThe Quality Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the organization's quality assurance and quality/reliability engineering functions to ensure products, processes, and systems consistently meet customer requirements, regulatory standards, and company objectives. This role drives continuous improvement initiatives, oversees quality management systems, manages quality engineering resources, and collaborates cross-functionally to improve product quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.\nESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:\nQuality Management\nDevelop, implement, and own the effectiveness of the company's Quality Management System (QMS).\nEnsure compliance with applicable industry standards, customer requirements, and regulatory requirements.\nEstablish quality objectives, metrics, and reporting processes to monitor performance.\nLead internal and external quality audits and support certification activities.\nQuality Engineering\nLead the engineering team in product and process quality improvement initiatives.\nDevelop inspection, testing, validation, and acceptance criteria for products and processes.\nUtilize quality tools and methodologies including:Root Cause Analysis (RCA)\nCorrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)\nFailure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)\n Control Plans and Process Control\nSix Sigma and Lean methodologies\n\nReview engineering changes and assess quality impacts.\nField Performance & Warranty Management\nMonitor product performance in the field.\nDevelop systems to collect and analyze warranty and service data.\nBuild maturity through establishing a closed loop process connecting field failures and warranty claims to RCA, CAPA and Process Controls/Improvement tools\nIdentify systemic failures and lead corrective action initiatives.\nWork with Service and Customer Support teams to improve product uptime and customer satisfaction.\nReduce warranty expenditures through proactive reliability improvements.\nCustomer Quality\nServe as the primary escalation point for major customer quality concerns.\nLead investigations into customer complaints and warranty issues.\nCoordinate corrective action plans and ensure timely resolution.\nStrengthen customer relationships through effective communication and continuous quality improvement.\nSupplier Quality\nPartner with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to improve supplier quality performance and to establish a PPAP process for suppliers.\nEstablish supplier quality requirements and performance metrics.\nLead supplier audits and corrective action activities.\nEvaluate and approve supplier quality systems and processes.\nContinuous Improvement\nDrive a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.\nAnalyze quality data and identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce defects.\nLead cross-functional teams focused on improving quality, safety, productivity, and customer satisfaction.\nPromote the use of quality tools and best practices across operations and engineering teams.\nLeadership & Development\nRecruit, develop, and mentor quality team personnel.\nSet departmental goals aligned with corporate objectives.\nManage departmental budgets and resources.\nFoster collaboration between engineering, operations, supply chain, sales, and customer service teams.\nDrive a culture of problem solving and continuous improvement as part of Operations Staff\nQualifications\nQUALIFICATIONS:\nEducation\nBachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Engineering, Reliability Engineering or a related technical field. Master's degree preferred.\nExperience\n7-10+ years of progressive experience in quality engineering, quality assurance, or manufacturing engineering.\n3-5+ years of leadership or management experience.\nExperience within manufacturing, industrial equipment, food processing equipment, or related industries preferred.\nTechnical Skills\nStrong knowledge of quality management systems and industry standards.\nExperience with ISO 9001 and other applicable quality standards.\nProficiency in root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies.\nExperience with quality statistics and data analysis tools.\nKnowledge of manufacturing processes, welding, fabrication, machining, assembly, and supplier quality management is preferred.\nCertifications (Preferred)\nCertified Quality Engineer (CQE)\nCertified Quality Manager (CQM)\nSix Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt\nASQ certifications\nWhy Work at Key Technology?\nKey Technology offers a competitive benefits package for all full-time employees, including:\nMedical, Dental, and Vision coverage\nFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA), when allowed by tax law\nPaid life insurance and disability insurance, with options to purchase additional coverage\nPaid Maternity/Paternity Leave\nOptional coverages: Long-term Care, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance\n401(k) plan with company match\nEducational Assistance reimbursement\nAccrued Paid Time Off (PTO)\n10 paid holidays annually\nEmployment with Key Technology is contingent upon successfully completing a pre-employment drug screen, criminal history, social security, and reference check. Key Technology is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer. In addition to federal law requirements, Key Technology complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process should contact the Human Resources Department to request accommodation. Key Technology participates in E-Verify.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5998,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":7,"management_years_min":5,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Life insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Food & Beverages","Manufacturing","Industrial Machinery"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-30T02:58:36Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":31,"reasons":["conf:17","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/key-technology-quality-engineering-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/key-technology-quality-engineering-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T09:36:54Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":293,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4707,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}