Lead Quality Engineer

Job Description Summary

The Lead Quality Engineer serves as a key leader within the Quality Control department, responsible for overseeing daily QC functions, leading compliance inspections, and ensuring all precast concrete products meet company standards, customer specifications, and applicable industry and transportation agency codes. This role takes ownership of quality documentation, audits, and regulatory compliance while supervising, scheduling, and training a team of 3–5 QC technicians and floor personnel. Reporting to the Quality Control Manager, the Lead Quality Engineer acts as a hands-on leader who drives a culture of quality, mentors team members, and supports continuous improvement throughout the facility.

Why This Role Matters

As a Lead Quality Engineer at United Concrete, you are the front line of our 70-year reputation for excellence—every structure we produce supports the safety and infrastructure of communities across New England. This is a high-impact leadership role where your expertise directly shapes product quality, mentors the next generation of QC professionals, and positions you for continued growth within our organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• This position requires the employee to lead and perform a variety of QC functions, including but not limited to:
• Perform and oversee daily compressive strength testing of hardened concrete specimens
• Conduct and supervise fresh concrete testing (slump, air content, temperature, unit weight, and specimen casting)
• Perform inspections of manufactured precast structures, including dimensional checks, finish quality, and embedment/reinforcement placement verification
• Lead daily compliance inspections to ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures
• Provide hands-on enforcement of the quality control program throughout the facility
• Maintain detailed documentation for DOT and transportation agencies in the New England area
• Maintain comprehensive records for raw materials, certifications, equipment, calibrations, and test results
• Manage logs for Nonconformance Records (NCR), Requests for Information (RFI), and site inspections
• Prepare comprehensive daily, weekly, and monthly reports for the QC area
• Develop and execute internal quality audits
• Facilitate DOT and transportation agency audits
• Facilitate PCI and NPCA audits
• Supervise, schedule, and train a team of 3–5 QC technicians and floor personnel
• Assist the QC Manager in investigating root causes of defects and implementing corrective actions
• Prepare for and lead quality meetings and manage punch lists
• Report to the management team on process improvements, repetitive mistakes, and quality concerns
• Other duties may be assigned as needed

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in quality assurance/quality control, preferably in precast concrete, construction materials, or a related manufacturing environment
• Proven experience supervising, scheduling, and training QC personnel
• Demonstrated experience facilitating DOT, transportation agency, PCI, and/or NPCA audits
• High School diploma or equivalent required
• 2-year technical college degree required; 4-year degree preferred
• ACI Concrete Field-Testing Technician – Grade I certification preferred, or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire and maintain certification
• Advanced QC certifications strongly preferred (e.g., NPCA/PCI Level I/II, DOT QC Inspector Certification, ACI advanced certifications)
• Strong knowledge of construction materials and concrete testing methods
• Thorough understanding of DOT and transportation agency documentation requirements
• Proficient in reading blueprints/shop drawings and applying quality standards and inspection techniques
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, data entry, and quality reporting/documentation software)
• Eligible to work in the United States

Benefits

United Concrete offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• 401(k) with up to 10% company contribution
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Sick time
• Paid holidays