Senior Quality Engineer Jobs in Pendleton, SC (NOW HIRING)

Back Senior Quality Systems Specialist
Quality Piedmont , South Carolina Professional Direct Hire Jul 27, 2026

Location: Piedmont, SC
Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time
Classification: Salaried, Non-Exempt

HTI is seeking a Senior Quality Systems Specialist for a growing automotive manufacturing operation in Piedmont, SC. This position will serve as a key resource for the facility’s Quality Management System and will take ownership of the internal audit program, quality documentation infrastructure, and ongoing IATF 16949 compliance.

The ideal candidate will have direct experience working within an IATF 16949-certified manufacturing facility and must have hands‑on experience planning and conducting internal IATF audits. This is not a traditional Quality Engineer position. The primary focus will be quality systems, audit readiness, document control, corrective‑action tracking, and ensuring that quality requirements are consistently implemented throughout plant operations.

• Own and lead the facility’s internal audit program, including developing the annual audit schedule, conducting audits, and ensuring appropriate coverage across processes and shifts.
• Select, train, and support internal auditors.
• Coordinate preparation and plant readiness for IATF 16949 certification, surveillance, customer, and registrar audits.
• Provide on‑site support during external audits and coordinate responses to audit findings and nonconformances.
• Drive root‑cause analysis, corrective‑action closure, and effectiveness verification for internal and external audit findings.
• Escalate systemic, recurring, or overdue quality‑system issues to plant leadership.
• Own controlled quality‑system documentation, including procedures, work instructions, forms, records, revision histories, approval workflows, access controls, and retention requirements.
• Ensure current documentation is available at the point of use and obsolete documents are removed or secured.
• Lead quality‑related management‑of‑change activities involving manufacturing processes, inspection methods, control plans, PFMEAs, and other plant documentation.
• Track CAPA and 8D activity, proactively identifying overdue or stalled corrective actions that could create audit or certification exposure.
• Prepare materials for Quality Management Review meetings, including audit results, corrective‑action status, system‑performance trends, and recurring nonconformance data.
• Maintain QMS databases and tracking tools for audits, document control, CAPA, and other compliance records.
• Serve as a key point of contact for registrars and customer auditors.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Production, Maintenance, and Production Control to ensure quality‑system requirements are followed in daily shop‑floor operations.

• Direct experience working in an IATF 16949-certified manufacturing facility.
• Hands‑on internal IATF auditing experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience planning, managing, and executing an internal audit program.
• IATF 16949 or ISO 9001 Internal Auditor certification required.
• Lead Auditor training is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949 requirements, particularly those related to auditing, document control, change management, and management review.
• Experience supporting certification, surveillance, registrar, or customer‑led audits.
• Experience with document‑control systems, controlled quality records, and CAPA tracking.
• Experience leading cross‑functional process or documentation changes in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with AIAG core tools, including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and 8D problem solving.
• Experience working with customer‑specific requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and QMS or document‑management platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Highly organized, self‑directed, and comfortable holding cross‑functional teams accountable for required actions.
• Associate degree in a related field preferred; equivalent relevant manufacturing experience will also be considered.

This position works within both office and manufacturing environments. The employee may be required to stand, bend, reach, push, pull, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds. Exposure to manufacturing areas will require appropriate personal protective equipment, including safety glasses and steel‑toed shoes. Some overtime, schedule flexibility, and travel may be required.

Candidates must be able to clearly demonstrate their personal involvement in conducting IATF 16949 internal audits. General exposure to IATF requirements or experience supporting an audit without directly performing audits will not meet the requirements of this position.

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