Quality Improvement Engineer Full Time

Graham Packaging is a people, planet and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. From the kitchen to the laundry room, Graham Packaging is part of your everyday life.

For employees at Graham, our Blue Culture is part of their everyday lives, too. In other words, Blue is how we do things here.

At Graham, we are united by a clear vision. We know our part and help those around us know theirs, encouraging one another to continuously improve. We create a safe, challenging environment to innovate by supporting creative ideas and new ways of thinking. We take the initiative to cultivate our individual growth and help others do the same, while keeping ourselves and one another accountable. And we actively promote cooperation, collaboration, integrity and respect across regions and teams to foster an engaged, diverse and connected workforce.

We value our employees, and a Blue Culture allows for the most rewarding employee experience as part of the Graham family. Blue is how we feel about what we do—together—to create a better tomorrow. Working at Graham means you lead constructively with clear goals, use diverse thinking to drive excellence, accountability, innovation, as well as demonstrating collaboration, embracing learning, and taking action for continuous improvement and growth.

Working throughout Graham Packaging North America the Quality Improvement Engineer will work with the Corporate Plant Performance and Plant Operations teams of each plant to improve the organization’s quality management system (QMS) compliance, Quality tools standardization, and/or quality indicator performance, through identifying systemic issues, developing and/or driving corrective and preventive actions for quality system, process, or product failures, and providing training on Quality system and/or tools. This position reports to the Director of Quality Engineering.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Quality System Compliance

• Identify, diagnose, and resolve QMS compliance gaps, nonconformances, and/or recurring issues.
• Lead focused corrective/preventive action activities, ensuring timely closure and root cause elimination.
• Maintain and improve quality procedures, work instructions, and documentation to meet requirements.

Quality Tool Standardization

• Identify, diagnose, and resolve Quality tool setup or usage variation across plant network.

General Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Facilitate structured problem‑solving using 5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA, 8D, Problem Solving A3, Kaizens, etc.
• Analyze quality performance indicator data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to implement process improvements that enhance product quality, reduce defects, and improve efficiency.
• Monitor effectiveness of implemented solutions and adjust as needed.

Training & Coaching

• Develop and deliver training for plant management, supervision, and shopfloor individuals on QMS requirements, quality tool setup/usage, SPC, and problem-solving methods.
• Mentor quality personnel to improve technical capability and promote a culture of quality ownership.
• Provide guidance on best practices for quality system compliance and quality tool setup/usage.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Ensure quality requirements are understood by Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and others.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert for quality system and tools.

This job will entail up to 75% travel minimum. Must be able to travel internationally as needed.

Requirements:

• BS in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience working within a regulated or standards‑driven environment (ISO 9001, FSSC 22000).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Minimum 3 to 5 years Improving quality systems or production process outputs.
• Working knowledge of analytical tools associated with statistics & quality systems.
• Ability to write technical documents and create step by step instruction sets for operation
• Must have a functional understanding of standard software packages, including Microsoft applications, Power BI, and statistical software such as Minitab.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with auditing
• Strong knowledge of QMS principles, root‑cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and training skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive change across teams.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software (InfinityQS or similar)

The standard compensation for this role is $94,600 – 141,900. Salary offers will be determined based on final candidate qualifications, experience, skillset, and other relevant factors.

The expected salary range for the position described in this posting is made in accordance with the legal mandates of certain jurisdictions within the United States. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual qualifications and experience.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees are able to enroll in the company’s 401K Employee Saving Plan and may participate in its Employee Wellness Program. Employees will also receive paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

Graham Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.