Quality Manager – Automotive Quality & IATF 16949

About the Opportunity

We are recruiting on behalf of a German-owned precision manufacturing company in Elgin, Illinois, specializing in metal stamping and deep drawing.

As the company expands its presence in the automotive sector, it is seeking a hands-on quality professional to support the final stages of its IATF 16949 certification preparation, strengthen automotive quality processes, and prepare for upcoming customer audits.

With much of the initial groundwork already in place, the focus will be on ensuring that quality systems are effectively implemented, audit-ready, and consistently applied throughout manufacturing operations.

This position offers the opportunity to progressively assume full responsibility for the company's quality management function.

We welcome applications from experienced Quality Engineers, Senior Quality Engineers, Quality Systems Engineers, and Quality Managers who bring practical automotive quality experience and are ready to take on broader responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the remaining stages of IATF 16949 certification preparation and ensure continued compliance with applicable quality standards.
• Prepare for and coordinate automotive customer audits, including customer-specific requirements, documentation, corrective actions, and follow-up activities.
• Maintain and further develop the company's existing ISO 9001 quality management system.
• Apply automotive quality core tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and MSA.
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to ensure quality readiness for new equipment, manufacturing processes, and product launches.
• Investigate customer complaints, nonconformances, and process deviations, implementing effective corrective actions.
• Strengthen quality processes, reduce scrap, and improve manufacturing consistency.
• Establish and monitor quality performance indicators and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Gradually assume overall responsibility for the company's quality management function, including quality systems, processes, customer requirements, and team coordination.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in automotive manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or quality systems.
• Practical knowledge of IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 requirements.
• Direct experience preparing for or participating in automotive customer audits.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and MSA.
• Experience with corrective actions, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate closely with production and engineering teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Interest in developing into a broader quality management leadership role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in metal stamping, metal forming, or automotive component manufacturing.
• Experience supporting IATF 16949 certification readiness or implementation.
• Experience managing customer-specific requirements and responding to audit findings.
• Experience supporting new equipment installations, process validation, or production launches.
• Previous responsibility for quality projects, audit programs, or small teams.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Opportunity to grow into full responsibility for the company's quality management function.
• Play an important role in the company's expansion into automotive manufacturing.
• Work directly with company leadership in a hands-on manufacturing environment.
• Influence quality processes, manufacturing performance, and continuous improvement.
• Competitive base salary of $100,000–$125,000.