Principal Engineer-Eng'g Qual at ZF Friedrichshafen

Req ID 86610 | Gbl Elec HQ - Farmington Hills, United States ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC

About the Position

The Principal Engineer- Engineering Quality plays a key role in shaping and sustaining the Global Quality Systems for the ADAS Division, ensuring robust compliance with IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 standards. This role partners closely with manufacturing sites and design centers worldwide to coordinate ISO/TS activities, drive audit readiness, and strengthen quality system consistency across the organization.

What you can look forward to as Principal Engineer- Engineering Quality:

• Lead and manage Global Quality Systems for the ADAS Division, ensuring alignment with customer, regulatory, and ZF business requirements
• Ensure full compliance with IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3, including certification maintenance, system deployment, and governance
• Plan, lead, and conduct internal and external audits (IATF, VDA, LPA, PMA, Line Readiness), including coordination with auditors and report out to management
• Drive timely closure of corrective actions, systematically analyze audit results and quality trends, and identify continuous improvement opportunities
• Maintain and continuously improve quality system documentation, ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations
• Deploy, standardize, and train sites on quality system tools (LPA, product audits, VDA, BIQS, CQIs), promoting quality awareness across manufacturing locations
• Support cross functional problem solving activities, lessons learned/read across deployment, and onsite launch support at ZF and customer plants
• Report quality system performance and audit outcomes to top management, lead improvement initiatives, and standardize best practices across the division

Your profile as Principal Engineer- Engineering Quality:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with 5+ years of audit experience in electronics manufacturing (through‑hole, SMT, final assembly, packaging), or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8+ years of experience in Quality Systems management within an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Proven expertise with automotive quality standards and tools, including IATF 16949, BIQS, VDA, CQIs, Layered Process Audits, and Product Audits
• Strong analytical problem‑solving, decision‑making, and team‑building skills, with knowledge of Shainin or Red X methodologies (certification preferred)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and presentations; proficient with MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio) and IATF 16949 Internal Auditor certified

What We Offer:

• A supportive collaborative team environment
• Annual Incentive Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Personal Time
• 401k Plan
• Health Care Benefits
• Paid Holidays
• A strong diversity culture
• Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities

Be part of our ZF team as Principal Engineer-Eng'g Qual and apply now!

Contact

Gabriela Palacio

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice.

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility.

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran