Quality Assurance Lead

The Role: General Motors is looking for an experienced Quality Leader to join the Rochester Operations Central Quality team. Reporting to the Quality Manager, this role will provide technical and operational leadership for assigned manufacturing areas, including IAFM/Canister and manifold/LOMA-related operations and component processes. The Quality Lead is accountable for protecting the customer, strengthening built-in quality, and improving manufacturing performance. This role partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality Engineering, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Quality, and plant leadership to identify risk, resolve complex quality issues, and sustain robust processes from launch through production. This is a hands-on leadership role for a quality professional who can work independently, influence across functions, and translate data and customer feedback into durable corrective actions. What You’ll Do: Lead quality activities for assigned manufacturing areas and serve as the primary quality partner to area leadership. Establish and sustain built-in quality practices, including quality-focused checks, PFMEA, control plans, error-proofing, reaction plans, standardized work, and operator training. Monitor key quality measures—including first-time quality, parts-per-million performance, scrap, rework, customer complaints, alarm limits, and containment—and drive improvement. Lead rapid response to customer complaints, audit findings, internal findings, and emerging issues through containment, communication, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and effectiveness verification. Own quality review of manufacturing changes, production tryouts, deviations, temporary work instructions, process approvals, and launch deliverables; support PPAP and production readiness. Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Product Engineering on process controls, equipment, tooling, automation, capability, measurement systems, and change-management decisions. Ensure non-conforming material is identified, tagged, contained, traceable, and dispositioned on time, with appropriate escalation of aging or high-risk material. Lead and participate in quality audits, layered audits, Built-In Quality reviews, internal audits, and customer-specific assessments. Apply Practical Problem Solving, Red X, and other data-driven methods to eliminate recurrence, reduce cost of poor quality, and deliver measurable results. Communicate quality trends, risks, countermeasures, and results to leadership; coach quality and cross-functional team members while promoting continuous improvement, safe behaviors, and GM Values. Will be responsible for leading a team of Quality Engineers Your Skills and Abilities (Required qualifications): Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, quality, or related technical discipline. Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, process controls, inspection methods, and quality management systems. Significant experience in manufacturing, quality engineering, process engineering, or a related automotive or industrial environment. Proven experience in root cause analysis and problem solving. Experience with core quality tools such as APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and capability analysis. Ability to influence decisions and drive action across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality without relying solely on direct authority. Ability to work on the plant floor and respond to changing production, customer, and business priorities. What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred qualifications): Experience in automotive powertrain, air and fuel management, manifold, LOMA, machining, welding, molding, or assembly operations. Experience with manufacturing systems, Built-In Quality, Global Manufacturing System principles, or comparable lean manufacturing systems. Quality or process improvement certification, such as Red X, Six Sigma, or equivalent. Experience