About Gleason With more than 2,200 employees and 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide, Gleason Corporation is a leader in gear technology. Gleason's product and service offerings include gear and transmission design software, gear manufacturing machines and related accessories, gear metrology equipment and automation systems. Gleason products are used by customers in e-mobility, commercial vehicles, aerospace, agriculture, mining, sustainable energy, construction, power tools, marine and many other industries Working for Gleason, you will be connected to work that matters, putting your expertise to its best use while developing skills for the future. The result is a career defined by you, supported by Gleason and built on tangible accomplishments. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are looking for the right people to join us on our mission. If you are interested in being part of our team, there are a few things you should know: We are energized by challenges and the effort needed to solve them. We like working with people who are positive, adaptable and growth-minded. We care how work gets accomplished and are deeply invested in the success of our customers and colleagues. If this sounds like you, we invite you to read on and learn more.
Why work at Gleason?
- Excellent benefits package including a 6% Company 401(k) match
- Flexible scheduling options available in some departments
- NYS Certified Apprenticeship Program
- Shift premiums for 2nd and 3rd shifts
- Formal and informal development opportunities.
Position Overview
The Quality Engineer III serves as a senior technical resource responsible for strengthening the manufacturing Quality Management System and leading quality engineering activities across production and support functions. The role applies quality engineering methods, supports compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, improves process controls, leads corrective action and continual improvement, and provides daily technical direction to quality technicians and inspection laboratories. The position combines hands-on manufacturing quality expertise with ownership of risk-based quality planning, process auditing, root-cause analysis, control plans, inspection planning, metrology, and quality data analysis to improve product conformity, process capability, customer satisfaction, and sustained QMS performance.
Primary Job Functions
Quality Engineering & QMS Support / ISO 9001 Responsibilities
- Quality Management System Support: Participate in and support ISO 9001 quality system & ISO 14001 environmental system processes, procedures, work instructions, forms, and documented information to ensure effective implementation and ongoing compliance.
- Process Controls & Risk-Based Thinking: Develop, review, and improve best practice, inspection plans, process controls, and risk mitigation activities to prevent defects and support consistent product conformity.
- Corrective Action & Root-Cause Analysis: Lead investigations for internal nonconformances, customer complaints, supplier issues, and audit findings using structured problem-solving tools such as 5 Why, 8D, fishbone diagrams, and corrective action plans.
- Audit Readiness & Compliance: Perform, and support ISO 9001 & 14001 internal audits, customer audits, supplier audits, and certification audit activities; verify corrective actions for effectiveness and closure.
- Quality Metrics & Continual Improvement: Track, analyze, and report quality performance indicators such as scrap, rework, customer complaints, audit findings, supplier defects, and corrective action status to identify trends and drive improvement projects.
- Cross-Functional Quality Leadership: Partner with the Quality Supervisor, production, engineering, purchasing, suppliers, and management to resolve quality issues, implement process improvements, communicate requirements, and promote quality ownership throughout the organization. Provide quality input for product and process changes, recommend containment or escalation when requirements are not met, and support disposition decisions within delegated authority.
Quality Lead, Inspection
- Team Coordination: Provide day-to-day technical direction to quality technicians and inspectors; assign and coordinate inspection priorities; support qualification and training; review the completeness and accuracy of inspection work; and escalate staffing, performance, or disciplinary matters to the Quality Supervisor. This role provides functional leadership but does not have direct personnel-management responsibility.
- Advanced Inspection & Metrology: Perform inspection as needed, on critical features using CMM, optical comparators, micrometers, calipers, gages, and other precision measurement equipment.
- Inspection Planning: Create and maintain inspection requirements, sampling plans, receiving inspection criteria, in-process checks, final inspection requirements, and records needed to demonstrate product conformity.
- Calibration Management: Audit and verify our third party calibration services are effectively maintaining the calibration system and processes for measuring and monitoring equipment, to ensure gages are properly identified and controlled, and address out-of-tolerance conditions in accordance with quality procedures.
- Documented Information Control: Support control of procedures, work instructions, inspection records, calibration records, nonconformance records, audit reports, and corrective action documentation required by the quality management system (QMS).
Qualifications & Skills Required:
- Experience: Hands-on experience in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, inspection, auditing, or Quality Management System support.
- ISO 9001 Knowledge: Working knowledge of ISO 9001 requirements, internal auditing, documented information, corrective action, risk-based thinking, customer satisfaction, and continual improvement.
- Technical Skills: High proficiency in blueprint reading, inspection planning, measurement methods.
- Quality Tools: Demonstrated experience with root-cause analysis, corrective action, Nonconformance control, and data-driven problem solving.
- Metrology: Hands-on experience using CMM equipment and standard precision measuring tools.
- Communication: Strong technical writing, audit reporting, coaching, and cross-functional communication skills, Proficient in Microsoft 365 suite.
Preferred:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, quality, manufacturing, or a related technical field, or equivalent education and experience.
- Industry Standards: Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems and ISO 14001 environmental management systems preferred.
- Inspection: Gear inspection experience preferred.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
- Must be able to navigate a bustling manufacturing floor safely.
- Ability to lift up to 35 lbs occasionally.
- Prolonged periods of standing at inspection stations and working on a computer.
Other Requirements
This position requires a high level of confidentiality and professional judgment. The employee must practice and support the Gleason Business Philosophy (GBP), understand applicable ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 objectives and targets, and help ensure quality and environmental management system responsibilities are effectively communicated and followed.
Have a clear understanding of departmental procedures, work instructions, process controls, inspection requirements, and records needed to support product conformity and QMS effectiveness.
Employee is required to learn, understand and practice Lean Manufacturing principles within our facility and be capable of moving freely throughout the manufacturing plant and office to perform assignments.
Employee must be willing to attain or maintain ISO auditor qualification, attend additional quality engineering and QMS training as necessary, support continual improvement activities, and project a positive image of self, department, and company.
The salary range in this posting depends on qualifications and experience. Actual compensation may vary, and this job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on relevant experience, qualifications/education, and other factors including work schedule, shift premiums, and overtime.
Gleason is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to age, disability, genetic information and/or predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, national origin, race/color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, victim of domestic violence status, arrest or conviction record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.
MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job in a manufacturing environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employees are required to use proper lift assistance for any objects over 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job in a manufacturing environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts; wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees are required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their manager or supervisor.
DISCLAIMER
The duties listed in this job description are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an all inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities. The omission of specific statements or duties and responsibilities does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.
