Sr Quality Engineer
Domtar · Kingsport, TN
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at Domtar (packaging) in Kingsport, TN. Troubleshoot, repair, and coordinate external service for testing equipment when necessary.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Tennessee: typical posted base $80k–$120k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 26 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 25 other live quality postings in Tennessee.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $80k–$120k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 50%
- Lean 35%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 35%
- Supplier quality 31%
- Team leadership 31%
- SPC 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Domtar
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?
- 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.
This plant: Domtar in Kingsport
2 other open roles at this site.
- Sr Process Engineer - Paper Machine · Process · Senior
- Production Team Leader · Production · Supervisor
Full description from DomtarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Position Summary
The Quality Engineer provides technical leadership and quality support for the containerboard manufacturing process. This role works closely with production, sales, shipping, customer service, and laboratory personnel to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and quality standards. The Quality Engineer is responsible for quality system management, laboratory operations, testing equipment calibration, complaint investigation, customer trial support, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product performance and customer satisfaction. This description incorporates
responsibilities
from the uploaded job posting and your additional requirements.
requirements
and delivery expectations.
- ✓Serve as a technical resource to operations regarding quality standards, testing methods, and product specifications.
- ✓Maintain strong working relationships across departments to drive quality improvements and operational excellence.
Required
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Paper Science, Chemistry, Quality Management, or related technical field; equivalent industry experience may be considered.
- ✓Minimum of 3 years of quality, process, or manufacturing experience.
- ✓Experience with root cause analysis, statistical data evaluation, and process improvement methodologies.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Domtar is a leading producer of pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products. Through our focus on safety and sustainability, as well as our commitment to operational excellence and our network of facilities across Canada and the United States, Domtar delivers high-quality and cost-effective products to customers around the world.
Our workforce is comprised of 14,000 talented and hardworking individuals. We are proud to offer competitive compensation, a supportive working environment, rewarding career paths and plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.
The location in Kingsport, (Tennessee, United States), is seeking talent to fill the position of Sr Quality Engineer . This job is full-time permanent.
Quality & Process Support
- •Provide daily quality support to containerboard manufacturing operations.
- •Monitor product quality performance and communicate quality concerns, trends, and opportunities to mill leadership and operating teams.
- •Analyze quality and process data to identify root causes of variation and implement corrective actions.
- •Review quality reports, test data, operating logs, and customer feedback to prevent potential quality issues.
- •Facilitate and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, process capability, and customer satisfaction.
- •Support grade development, product optimization, and specification management.
- •Maintain continuous supply of starch & order chemicals when required.
- •Assist in all types of trials: chemical, product development, customer, process improvement.
- •If required, visit customers to resolve complaints and assess first-hand information.
Laboratory Management
- •Maintain the mill quality laboratory, ensuring a safe, organized, and efficient working environment.
- •Manage laboratory inventory including testing supplies, standards, consumables, and equipment spare parts.
- •Ensure laboratory testing procedures comply with mill, TAPPI, and customer requirements.
- •Support crew members and provide technical guidance on testing methodologies.
- •Train crew members as required in all types of testing.
Testing Equipment & Calibration
- •Maintain all quality testing equipment and coordinate preventative maintenance activities.
- •Ensure calibration of all laboratory and quality measurement equipment on a quarterly basis or as required by calibration standards.
- •Troubleshoot, repair, and coordinate external service for testing equipment when necessary.
- •Verify the accuracy and reliability of quality data generated by laboratory systems and equipment.
Customer Quality & Complaint Resolution
- •Investigate customer complaints and quality claims through data analysis, process reviews, and product evaluation.
- •Work closely with Technical, Logistics, Shipping, Production, and Sales departments to provide timely responses to customer quality concerns.
- •Develop root cause analyses and corrective action plans to prevent recurrence of quality issues.
- •Interface with customers when required to understand concerns and support resolution efforts.
- •Track complaint trends and recommend long-term improvements.
Customer Trials & Product Development
- •Coordinate and participate in customer trials involving new products, grade modifications, process changes, or performance evaluations.
- •Collect and analyze trial data and communicate findings to customers and internal stakeholders.
- •Support product qualification and customer approval processes.
- •Collaborate with sales and operations teams to develop customer-specific quality solutions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- •Work closely with Sales, Production, Shipping, and Customer Service teams to meet customer
Quality Systems & Compliance
- •Maintain quality records, procedures, standards, and documentation.
- •Ensure compliance with internal quality systems, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards.
- •Participate in audits and support corrective action implementation.
- •Monitor quality performance metrics and prepare reports for management review.
Preferred
- +5+ years of experience in a pulp, paper, containerboard, or packaging manufacturing environment.
- +Knowledge of TAPPI testing methods and paper testing equipment.
- +Experience supporting customer claims, quality systems, and product development initiatives.
- +Familiarity with laboratory management and calibration programs.
Core Competencies
- •Strong analytical a