Principal Quality Engineer

About this role

About JLG, an Oshkosh company

JLG began in 1969, when our founder, John L. Grove set out to resolve growing safety concerns in the construction industry. Since then we have been committed to understanding the challenges and delivering innovative solutions to the access market. We partner with customers to provide quality equipment, training opportunities and trusted support within the access industry. We are a global company, and our products—including mobile elevating work platforms, telehandlers, utility vehicles and accessories—can be found all over the world.

The Principal Quality Engineer serves as a recognized technical expert responsible for advancing product quality, manufacturing capability, process improvement, and process performance across multiple product lines. This role applies advanced quality engineering principles, statistical methods, and structured problem-solving techniques to develop robust manufacturing processes, improve product reliability, optimize operational efficiency, and drive continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.

YOUR IMPACT • Serve as the technical expert for complex product, process, and supplier quality issues across multiple product platforms. • Lead the resolution of complex quality issues using advanced structured problem-solving methodologies and cross-functional collaboration to drive sustainable process improvements. • Lead continuous improvement of quality control testing, defect detection, defect prevention activities, and manufacturing processes. • Design, develop, validate, and optimize complex manufacturing and quality processes to improve product quality, increase operational efficiency, and process capability. • Apply advanced quality engineering tools including Design of Experiments (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), process capability analysis, PFMEA, control plans, and root cause analysis. • Analyze quality trends, process variation, and manufacturing data to identify systemic issues and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions that improve process performance. • Mentor and provide technical guidance to Quality Engineers, Quality Inspectors, and Quality Analysts in quality engineering principles, Lean methodologies, and process improvement activities. • Communicate effectively and collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Global Procurement & Supply Chain (GPSC), Sales, Contracts, Suppliers, and Operations to resolve complex quality-related issues, streamline processes, and improve operational performance. • Serve as a subject matter expert across multiple product platforms, providing technical guidance and support. • Facilitate quality forums by providing business impact assessments, risk evaluations, and data-driven recommendations to improve first-pass yield, reduce defects per unit, improve process efficiency, and achieve strategic quality objectives. • Identify and implement Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and improve process capability. • Lead defect reduction, process improvement, and system improvement projects using data-driven analysis, advanced problem-solving methods, and cross-functional collaboration to improve quality, cost, and delivery performance. • Perform advanced process capability studies, statistical analyses, and process validation activities for internal manufacturing operations and external suppliers. • Design and improve process inputs to achieve desired manufacturing and quality outcomes while reducing process variation. • Establish robust process controls and control plans to sustain improvements and prevent process backsliding. • Analyze manufacturing process constraints and develop standards to improve product quality, eliminate waste, and operational performance. • Benchmark industry best practices and emerging quality technologies and process improvement methodologies to enhance manufacturing and quality systems. • Investigate customer and supplier quality concerns and implement effective corrective and preventive actions utilizing structured quality methodologies. • Partner with Global Procurement & Supply Chain to establish supplier quality requirements, purchase specifications, APQP/PPAP activities, receiving inspection strategies, supplier audits, and contractual quality requirements. • Support new product introductions by developing quality plans, validating manufacturing processes, and ensuring production readiness. • Contribute to the maintenance of ISO, IATF, and other applicable quality management system certifications and compliance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related field from an accredited institution. • Eight (8) or more years of progressive quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment. • Demonstrated experience resolving complex product, manufacturing, or supplier quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies. • Advanced knowledge of quality engineering principles, statistical methods, Lean process improvement, and continuous improvement tools.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Master's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline. • Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent quality certification. • Advanced ability to interpret technical drawings including GD&T, engineering specifications, process requirements, and product characteristics. • Extensive experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), PFMEA, Control Plans, APQP, and PPAP. • Demonstrated project management experience, including leading cross-functional initiatives, managing timelines, and delivering results. • Advanced experience applying statistical analysis and process improvement methodologies to improve manufacturing capability, operational efficiency, and product quality. • Demonstrated succe

Similar jobs

• Principal Quality Engineer — Dealpath · San Francisco, CA
• Principal Quality Engineer — Penumbrainc · Alameda, CA
• Principal Quality Engineer — Penumbrainc · Roseville, CA
• Principal Quality Engineer — Medtronic · Mounds View, Minnesota, United States
• Principal Quality Development Engineer — Intersystems · Boston, MA
• Principal Quality Engineer - SDET — Onetrust · Atlanta, Georgia
• Principal Engineer Quality — Northrop Grumman · United States-California-Sunnyvale
• Principal Product Quality Engineer — Epirus · Torrance, California, United States