Quality Engineer at HSM in Hickory, NC

Quality Engineer

About Us

HSM Company History | HSM HEART Company Values | Who is HSM to our customers?

Founded in 1944, HSM is a third generation, privately held company with a rich history of innovation and a commitment to our people. With 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC, we specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries. Our expertise also includes designing and building automated production machinery. HSM products from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats, touch everyday life in countless ways.

At HSM, our success is built on our people. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success. If you’re looking for a meaningful place to grow and make an impact, we want to hear from you!

What You Will Do

As a Quality Engineer, you will combine technical knowledge, data analysis, and practical problem-solving to improve product and process quality.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support and improve quality systems aligned with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and VDA 6.3.
• Create and maintain PFMEAs, Control Plans, work instructions, and layered process audits.
• Analyze scrap, first-pass yield, PPM, and other quality metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support the Material Review Board process and help resolve nonconforming material.
• Review supplier PPAP submissions, quality documentation, corrective actions, and launch-readiness risks.
• Track supplier performance and help coordinate corrective actions and issue resolution.
• Support APQP activities, including feasibility reviews, process validation, capability studies, and launch-readiness assessments.
• Prepare and maintain PPAPs, first article inspections, capability studies, and related quality records.
• Analyze product and process data using SPC tools to identify trends, variation, and potential risks.
• Lead or support structured root cause investigations using methods such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa.
• Participate in Gemba walks, plant meetings, internal audits, customer audits, and cross-functional improvement projects.
• Help strengthen receiving inspection, document control, QMS training, and cost-of-poor-quality reduction efforts.
• Serve as a technical resource for quality technicians and production teams.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• Three or more years of Quality Engineering experience, preferably in automotive, transportation, or high-volume manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and Control Plans.
• Familiarity with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and VDA 6.3 requirements.
• Experience supporting quality systems, audits, and customer-specific requirements.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, GD&T, and inspection criteria.
• Experience with dimensional inspection tools and process capability studies, including Cpk and Ppk.
• Experience using structured problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa analysis.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into practical improvements.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate across operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams.
• An organized, detail-oriented approach with the ability to manage priorities independently.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with Minitab, SPC software, and ERP/MRP systems are preferred.

What Success Looks Like

You will help reduce scrap and variation, resolve quality concerns at their root cause, strengthen supplier and manufacturing performance, and improve readiness for audits and product launches. Most importantly, you will help create processes that consistently deliver quality products to our customers.

Travel

This position may require up to 30% travel to support other facilities, audits, customer needs, product launches, and quality improvement projects.

Why Join Us?

• Health & Wellness: Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants.
• Retire: 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO: 3 Weeks of PTO + company paid holidays.
• On-Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents.
• Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement, professional development assistance and career growth opportunities.
• Discounts: Enjoy discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort, Verizon Wireless, and more.

EEOC

At HSM, we believe that our diversity creates a productive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectionate or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.