Job Title: Manufacturing/Quality Engineer - Quangdong Province, China
(Bilingual – English/Chinese)
Irwin Seating Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA), a world-leading manufacturer of public audience seating since 1907, is currently hiring in partnership with Jax Studio (Hangzhou, China), an elite international design firm led by award-winning director Jaxston Lee. While Irwin Seating is globally recognized for outfitting iconic venues like Carnegie Hall with high-quality, predominantly American-made seating, Jax Studio brings over 20 years of expertise and 400+ patents in office furniture innovation and industrial design. Together, this collaboration combines Irwin’s century-long legacy of craftsmanship with Jax Studio’s "innovation-driven" technical precision to develop the next generation of world-class products.
Position Overview
This globally entrepreneurial-minded Manufacturing/Quality Engineer will support manufacturing operations serving Irwin’s customers in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, located primarily in Guangzhou and Zhejiang province, China, with a focus on ensuring product launch and delivery quality, driving continuous improvement, and coordinating technical communication between the Irwin U.S. and China teams. This role requires strong engineering expertise, excellent communication skills in both English and Chinese, and the ability to work effectively across cultures and international teams.
Key Responsibilities:
Manufacturing & Technical Support
- Review and interpret material certifications to verify compliance with specifications and standards.
- Read and interpret production prints, identifying and communicating key characteristics.
- Oversee tooling, molds, fixtures, and equipment development
- Coordinate and/or conduct load testing to validate product and process performance.
- Collaborate with overseas manufacturing teams to troubleshoot production challenges and implement corrective actions.
- Support metal fabrication, welding, injection molding, upholstery, assembly and various manufacturing processes, ensuring best practices are followed.
- Train and mentor local teams on manufacturing techniques, company standards, and process requirements.
- Travel to Irwin and global supply partners as needed to learn about company products, processes, and quality expectations.
Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement
- Develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance procedures and documentation.
- Conduct inspections, audits, and testing to ensure adherence to quality standards.
- Perform part and process quality checks, generate reports, and communicate corrective actions.
- Analyze production and quality data to identify trends and recommend process improvements.
- Support supplier quality management through audits and evaluations.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and report performance for overseas operations.
Cross-Functional & Cross-Cultural Collaboration
- Work closely with engineering, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure production meets cost, quality, and delivery targets.
- Facilitate communication between Irwin and YiHe, bridging language and cultural differences to support effective collaboration.
- Demonstrate adaptability and cultural awareness when working with U.S. and Chinese teams.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing-related environment.
- Experience with quality-focused initiatives and methodologies.
- Ability to read engineering drawings and understand manufacturing processes, especially metal fabrication and welding.
- Proficiency in CAD software and manufacturing tools.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using quality management tools such as SPC, FMEA, and Root Cause Analysis.
- Ability to review technical documents, including material certifications and PPAP reports.
- Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret manufacturing specifications including ANSI/Metric dimensions and tolerances
- Fluent in both English and Chinese (written and verbal).
- Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across functions and cultures. Willingness to communicate on a 24 hr. schedule.
- Willingness to regularly travel to Irwin, USA, for training and cross-site collaboration, as well as other global suppliers.
- Must have a Valid passport and a prior U.S. VISA with work experience in the USA
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience conducting load tests or mechanical testing.
- Prior experience supporting overseas manufacturing operations.
- Background in supplier quality management or auditing.