JobsMercury Marine

Quality Manager - Machining & Heat Treat

Mercury Marine · Fond du Lac, WI

Posted Aug 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a time you found a serious quality problem on the machining floor. What did you do first, and how did you keep production moving while you fixed it?

how the candidate balances containment, root cause discipline, and production pressure

Tell me about a time you had to get a change made on the shop floor but you didn't have direct authority over the people who needed to make it happen.

influence and negotiation skill without formal authority, called out directly in the posting

Describe a performance conversation you had with someone on your quality team that didn't go well at first. What did you change and what happened after?

people leadership skill in performance management, not just technical supervision

Tell me about a customer complaint that turned out to be a manufacturing process issue rather than a design issue. How did you figure out which it was and how did you handle the customer conversation?

cross-functional problem-solving and customer-facing communication under scrutiny

What does a strong quality culture actually look like on a machining floor, and what have you done to build one rather than just enforce inspection?

whether the candidate drives culture and prevention versus policing defects after the fact

Technical

Tell me about a heat treat process issue you've dealt with, maybe distortion, hardness out of spec, or case depth problems. What was going on and how did you trace it back to the cause?

real hands-on metallurgical and heat treat process knowledge versus book knowledge

How do you read a GD&T callout and figure out whether a part that failed on one datum is actually a functional problem versus a paperwork problem?

depth of GD&T and tolerance stack-up understanding for real parts, not just terminology

How have you used Lean Six Sigma tools on an actual project, and what was the measurable result?

whether Six Sigma knowledge is applied experience versus certification without practice

What's your experience with systems like Teamcenter, Oracle, or Power BI for pulling and presenting quality data, and how have you used that data to make a case to leadership or a customer?

practical fluency with the specific tools listed and ability to translate data into a decision

Situational

Say a supplier's PPAP submission looks complete but you have a gut feeling the process capability data was cleaned up. What do you actually do before you approve it?

rigor around PPAP review and willingness to push back on incomplete or suspect data

If SPC data on a heat treat line starts trending toward a control limit but hasn't crossed it yet, what's your call: keep running, adjust the process, or stop the line? Walk me through your reasoning.

judgment under ambiguity and comfort making a call before a problem is confirmed

How do you decide what to prioritize when your team is short-staffed and you've got a calibration backlog, an open PPAP, and a line-down quality escape all competing for attention on the same day?

operational prioritization and resource management under real constraints

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The full job description

As published by Mercury Marine.

Are you ready for what’s next?   Come explore opportunities within Brunswick, a global marine leader committed to challenging conventions and innovating next-generation technologies that transform experiences on the water and beyond.  Brunswick believes “Next Never Rests™,” and we offer a variety of exciting careers and growth opportunities within united teams defining the future of marine recreation.  We are seeking a results-driven Quality Manager with a strong background in machining and heat treating along with manufacturing quality systems to join our team. This leadership role requires deep knowledge of ISO 9001, Lean Six Sigma tools, and regulatory compliance, as well as a passion for continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will drive quality culture, operational excellence, and product integrity across the value chain. At Brunswick, we have passion for our work and a distinct ability to deliver. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: • People leader accountable for safety, leading a professional quality team, setting cross-functional goals and deploying team resources; responsible for performance evaluations, pay reviews and team staffing decisions. • Results are primarily achieved through the work of others and typically depend on the manager's ability to influence and negotiate with parts of the organization where formal authority is not held. • Accountable for business, functional or operational areas, processes, or programs. • Accountable for the performance and results of a team within own discipline or function • Adapts departmental plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges. • Provides technical guidance to employees, colleagues and/or customers. Knowledge, Skill and Ability Requirements: • Decisions are guided by data, policies, procedures, and business plans. • Broad technical expertise, business and industry knowledge, process knowledge and people leadership capabilities • Working knowledge of engineering drawings and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. • Knowledge of pertinent manufacturing techniques and their capabilities. • Working knowledge of PPAP process and requirements. • Verbal, written and computer graphic communication skills necessary to effectively present data and information to internal and external consumers. • Ability to lead, direct and instruct others in related job functions. • Thorough knowledge of inspection techniques, metrology methods, tolerances, blueprint reading, routings, SPC tools and techniques, personal computers, Office 365, and general shop practices. • Ability to reason through problems and suggest multiple workable solutions. • Ability to guide supervision in making proper decisions relative to product and process control issues. • Ability to perform duties independently, consulting manager as needed. • Ability to be flexible and able to control diverse priorities and assignments. Excellent organizational and follow-up skills. Must be able to pay close attention to detail. Diversity of thought and experiences is fundamental when imagining the unimaginable. Certain skillsets/experiences are necessary; however, others can be developed along the way. Education and Experience Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. • Proven experience within machining or related manufacturing environments, with a strong understanding of quality management principles and practices. • Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, datums, and manufacturing processes. • Strong understanding of heat treating and metallurgical principles and practices • Proficiency with MS Office, Power BI, SharePoint, Teamcenter, Oracle, and quality data systems. • Lean Six Sigma knowledge. • Hands-on approach with ability to lead on the shop floor. • Strong communication, team-building, and problem-solving skills. • Customer focused Preferred Qualifications and Experience • 5 or more years in a Quality Engineering role preferred. • 2 or more years in a leadership (people or technical) role preferred. • Green/Black Belt certification preferred. • Experience with calibration, measurement systems, and basic metallurgical testing preferred. • Experience with heat treat systems and processes • ASQ certifications are a plus. The anticipated pay range for this position is $103,200 to $144,000 annually. The actual base pay offered will vary depending on multiple factors including job- related knowledge/skills, relevant experience, business needs, and geographic location. In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. At Brunswick, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the salary range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the specifics of the candidate’s qualifications and the business context. This position is eligible to participate in Brunswick's comprehensive and high-quality benefits offerings, including medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401k (up to 4% match), Health Savings Account (with company contribution), well-being program, product purchase discounts and much more. Details about our benefits can be found here. Why Brunswick: Whatever tomorrow brings, we’ll be at the leading edge. As the clear leader in the marine industry, we’re committed to our values and supporting our exceptional people. We offer and encourage growth opportunities within and across our many brands. In addition, we’re proud of being recognized for making a splash with numerous awards! About Mercury Marine: Mercury Marine is a world leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems. A $2.6 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury designs, manufactures and distributes engines, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world with 10,000 service points globally. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers, and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine & Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.  Next is Now!   We value growth and development, recognizing that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Brunswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to innovation and inspiration and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.  If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hrsharedservices@brunswick.com  for support.  For more information about EEO laws, - click here Brunswick Corporation participates in E-Verify as part of our commitment to a lawful and transparent hiring process. For additional information click here: https://www.brunswick.com/e-verify . Brunswick and Workday Privacy Policies Brunswick does not accept applications, inquiries or solicitations from unapproved staffing agencies or vendors. For help, please contact our support team at: hrsharedservices@brunswick.com or 866-278-6942. All job offers will come to you via the candidate portal you create when applying through a posted position through https:///www.brunswick.com/careers .  If you are ever unsure about what is being required of you during the application process or its source, please contact HR Shared Services at 866-278-6942 or HRSharedServices@brunswick.com . #Brunswick Corporation - Mercury Marine

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