Division Quality Engineer
A. O. Smith · Tennessee
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at A. O. Smith (industrial) in Tennessee.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree preferred · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, SPC, FMEA
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Tennessee: typical posted base $80k–$110k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 34 quality engineer openings in Tennessee, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 33 other live quality postings in Tennessee.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $80k–$110k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 59%
- ✓ Lean 47%
- ✓ FMEA 47%
- ✓ Six Sigma 35%
- ✓ PPAP 35%
- ✓ ISO 9001 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Automation, Power BI / Tableau, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at A. O. Smith
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from A. O. SmithAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
responsibilities
are properly executed within AO Smith New Product Development process
- ◆Maintain and improve the division’s Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with ISO 9001 and other applicable standards.
- ◆Conduct internal audits and support external audits.
Education & Experience
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Quality, or related field preferred.
- ✓5+ years in quality assurance, or technical service—preferably in the appliance, HVAC, or plumbing industry.
- ✓Experience working with SAP/CRM systems.
- ✓Experience with ISO standards, PPAP, APQP, and statistical process control.
- ✓Six Sigma Black Belt.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Business Management
We Offer
#Appcast
ADA Statement & EEO Statement
In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Company / Location Information
A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
This position will be working at our Ashland City, TN location and is eligible for a hybrid schedule after 90 days of employment
Primary Function
The NAWH Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring that products and processes within the division meet established quality standards and customer requirements. This role analyzes failure data to identify product and process improvements and collaborates with internal teams and suppliers to reduce warranty costs while improving customer satisfaction. The NAWH Quality Engineer plays a key role in ensuring our water heater products meet or exceed performance expectations throughout their lifecycle.
Data Analysis & Reporting
- •Analyze claim data to identify patterns in product failures, components with high replacement rates, and seasonal trends.
- •Identify common installation or usage issues contributing to warranty calls or claims and recommends training or policy changes.
- •Provide feedback to product development teams for design improvements that reduce warranty incidents.
- •Monitor Field Failure Analysis findings and ensure that analyses are conducted properly and on time.
- •Monitor key quality metrics (PPM, scrap, rework, warranty costs per unit, COPQ
- •Design and generate weekly, monthly and quarterly warranty performance reports for management and cross functional team.
- •Provide ad hoc reports for specific components, models, or issues.
- •Work with IT/Business Analysts to improve data availability automation for reports and analysis.
Customer Quality Support/Continuous Improvement
- •Serve as an internal liaison for customer quality concerns.
- •Lead or participate in Lean/Six Sigma projects to reduce defects and improve efficiency.
- •Participate in cross-functional root cause investigations for high-cost failures (e.g., tank leaks, control board failures).
- •Facilitate quality issues meetings to drive awareness and effective action.
- •Visit customers in coordination with Sales in order to improve customer experience.
Quality Systems Management
- •Drive standardization of quality practices across the division.
- •Ensure that the quality function
Performance Metrics
- •Warranty rates for product categories (goal: year-over-year reduction).
- •Reduction in repeat failure claims.
- •Service call rates reduced year-over-year.
Skills & Competencies
- •Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret technical failure data.
- •Understanding and ability to perform statistical analysis.
- •Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, charts, tables, macros), Smartsheet and Minitab.
- •Understanding of water heater components, operation, and installation practices (a plus).
- •Excellent communication skills to work with technicians, suppliers, managers, and cross-functional teams.
- •Creating and presenting of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to groups of people.
- •Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- •High attention to detail and accuracy in recordkeeping.
- •Tableau and/or Power BI proficiency
- •Proficiency in quality tools (FMEA, 8D, SPC, DOE, COQ, MSA, AQP, PPAP, etc.)
Preferred
- +2+ years in warranty administration and claims processing software.
- +Experience with tank and tankless water heater products.
- +Familiarity with plumbing codes and standards related to water heaters.
- +ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- +Six Sigma Master Black Belt experience.
- +Lean Manufacturing/TPS experience.