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Lead Quality Engineer

John Deere · East Moline, IL

Apply on John Deere ↗
Level
Manager
Team
Quality
Base pay
$78k–$116k
Degree
Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked
18+ years
Industry
Industrial
Posted
21 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management quality role at John Deere (industrial) in East Moline, IL. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants.

They ask for
18+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names
Root cause, GD&T, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Welding, Tooling, SAP
Base pay
$78k–$116k

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $98k–$123k. This one lists $78k–$116k.

Median of the low and high ends of 41 live postings that list pay, out of 58 quality engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 57 other live quality postings in Illinois.

Base pay
About 11% below similar roles

Typical $95k–$122k, from 35 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (18+ vs 4+)

Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Root cause 53%
  • Supplier quality 47%
  • ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 45%
  • ✓ Team leadership 36%
  • SPC 36%
  • FMEA 34%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for GD&T, Cost reduction, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 18+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at John Deere

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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. 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. 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. 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: John Deere in East Moline

2 other open roles at this site.

Full description from John DeereAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

As a Lead Quality Engineer for John Deere Harvester Works located in East Moline, IL you will:

  • ◆Work directly with Line QEs to lead/develop and implement quality improvement projects
  • ◆Monitor Alert Center for tooling anomalies
  • ◆Directly support manufacturing operations of an assembly department in a shop floor environment
  • ◆Use production and customer warranty data to investigate, contain, and resolve quality non conformances within the production process and supplied components
  • ◆Manage daily quality calls, investigate root cause and implement both short-term and long-term corrective actions for defects found in a timely manner
  • ◆Provide clear and timely communication to management, operations, and cross functional teams for active quality issues
  • ◆Lead and actively participate in Continuous Improvement (CI) process on the shop floor improving and implementing departmental Safety, Quality, Efficiency, Delivery, Ergonomic and Cost reduction projects
  • ◆Work closely with cross functional teams, suppliers, and product design to drive inherent quality into our processes and products

VISA Sponsorship is NOT available for this position

Education

Ideally you will have a degree or equivalent related work experience in the following:

  • ✓Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline

What You'll Get

At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:

  • ✓Flexible work arrangements
  • ✓Highly competitive base pay
  • ✓Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
  • ✓Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
  • ✓Adoption assistance
  • ✓Employee Assistance Programs
  • ✓Tuition assistance
  • ✓Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
  • ✓Charitable contribution match
  • ✓Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
  • ✓Vacation and Holiday Pay

$77,628.00 - $116,436.00 + Benefits

Follow this link to learn more about our Total Rewards Package https://bit.ly/3XCd8fL

Must be 18 years of age or older to apply

The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all

responsibilities

and

qualifications

detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum

requirements

necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.

The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.

ACA Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Notice

The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Show full description ↓

There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW.

Primary Location: United States (US) - Illinois - East Moline

Function: Factory Engineering (CA)

Title: Lead Quality Engineer - 125136

Onsite/Remote: Onsite Position

Your

What Skills You Need

  • •Experience demonstrating technical aptitude in one of the following areas: hydraulics, powertrain, electrical, welding, assembly, manufacturing, or product validation
  • •A self-starter with the ability to execute multiple tasks in parallel with little supervision
  • •Ability to work in cross-functional groups and a team environment
  • •High level of attention to detail and accuracy

What Makes You Stand Out

  • •Experience in quality, manufacturing, operations in a shop floor environment
  • •Knowledge of drawing and schematic interpretation, product models, GD&T
  • •Experience in one or more related engineering areas: design, manufacturing, quality, industrial, or reliability
  • •Experience with engineering tools, systems and databases such as SAP, CREO, JDAAT, CVML

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