Quality Engineer
Quanex · Cannon Falls, MN
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $58k–$78k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at Quanex (industrial) in Cannon Falls, MN. Quanex ( NYSE: NX ) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, Supplier quality, CATIA / NX
- Base pay
- $58k–$78k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $85k–$120k. This one lists $58k–$78k.
Median of the low and high ends of 48 live postings that list pay, out of 78 quality engineer openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Minnesota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 77 other live quality postings in Minnesota.
- Base pay
- About 33% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $83k–$120k, from 44 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 58%
- ✓ Supplier quality 46%
- ✓ Lean 37%
- ISO 9001 37%
- ✓ Six Sigma 36%
- CAPA 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CATIA / NX, 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 Quanex
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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: Quanex in Cannon Falls
2 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
- Maintenance Technician - 3rd Shift · Reliability · Technician
Quality Engineer at Quanex in other locations
Quanex lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
- Rice Lake, WI · $54k–$80k
Full description from QuanexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Quanex is looking for a Quality Engineer to join our team located in Cannon Falls, MN.
We Offer You!
- •Competitive Salary
- •Bonus Potential
- •401K with 5% company match, yours to keep after 2 years
- •15% immediate return if you participate in the company’s ESPP
- •Medical, Dental & Vision Plans
- •Employer paid disability plans and life insurance
- •Paid Time Off & Holidays
- •Various Work Schedules
- •Tuition support for degree and continuous education
- •Employee Resource Groups focused on employee empowerment
What’s attractive about the Quality Engineer role?
- •Fast paced environment
- •Variation of job tasks
- •The company LIVES its values
What Success Looks Like
- •Works with operations, manufacturing, and product engineering, suppliers, and customers to develop quality standards, specifications, and quality metrics that can be economically maintained to ensure product acceptability
- •Act as the primary liaison between customers or suppliers and Quanex on quality-related issues and perform inspection tasks in emergency, temporary absences, or other appropriate circumstances
- •Visit suppliers and customers on a routine or emergency basis to resolve quality issues
- •Develop and maintain supplier quality audit materials and supplier quality metrics, verify supplier quality systems on the production floor, and conduct supplier quality audits
- •Assure accuracy of quality documentation, including hold tags, inspection reports, data collection, supplier inspection reports, and test reports
- •Compiles and prepares technical documentation in a presentable manner appropriate for the target audience, and monitors conformance to standards
- •Lead cross-functional teams in problem-solving sessions to establish definitive root cause and effective corrective actions for both internal and supplier quality issues
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Your Credentials
- •Bachelor's degree or Associate’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., quality, engineering, business, information systems, data management)
- •5 years of experience in a Quality position within a manufacturing environment and/or the equivalent combination of education and experience
- •A strong mathematical background is required to compile statistical data
- •Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- •Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Six Sigma is preferred
- •Proficiency in Microsoft Office essential
About Quanex, A Part of Something Bigger
Quanex ( NYSE: NX ) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets. We are A Part of Something Bigger by improving the performance and aesthetics of end products through continuous innovation, helping customers achieve greater production efficiencies, dedication to giving back to communities where we operate, producing shareholder value and helping our employees learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at Quanex.com .