Quality Engineer – Consumer Products (Furniture & Home Accessories)

Job Summary

The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring that consumer products meet safety standards, regulatory requirements, and customer quality expectations for the North American Market. The candidate will be working closely with product design dept, outsourced and local manufacturing, testing laboratories, suppliers, and marketing teams to ensure products are compliant, manufacturable, and market-ready.

The Quality Engineer acts as a bridge between product design, suppliers, and quality control to prevent quality issues and ensure consistent product performance throughout the life cycle of the product.

Key Responsibilities

Product Safety & Risk Assessment

• Ensure products comply with consumer product safety standards and meet the customer’s quality requirements
• Identify potential safety hazards (sharp edges, tipping risk, chemical risks, load failure).
• Ensure product complies with state regulations
• Conduct risk analysis such as:
  • DFMEA (Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis)
  • PFMEA (Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis)
• Review product safety requirements for items such as:
  • Furniture stability
  • Shower curtain rod load strength
  • Hook / caddy weight capacity
  • Material safety and compliance

Regulatory Compliance

Ensure products comply with applicable regulations such as:

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• ASTM International standards
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Examples of regulations for consumer goods:

• CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)
• Chemical restrictions (lead, phthalates)
• California Prop 65 requirements
• Labeling requirements
• Flammability requirements (textiles e.g shower curtains, bedding)

Testing Methods & Product Validation

Define and verify product testing methods.

Examples:

• Mechanical testing
  • Load test (rod, hook, shelf, caddy)
  • Drop test
  • Durability cycle test
  • Torque / pull force testing
• Environmental testing
  • Corrosion testing (salt spray for metal products)
  • Humidity testing (bathroom products)
  • Anti-mildew requirements
• Material testing
  • Fabric strength
  • Coating adhesion
  • Plastic impact resistance

Work with third-party labs and government organizations for certification and compliance testing.

Manufacturing Process Quality

Understand and control supplier manufacturing processes:

Examples:

• Metal forming
• Plastic injection molding
• Powder coating / painting
• Textile sewing

Quality engineer responsibilities:

• Define critical-to-quality parameters
• Approve production samples
• Establish inspection standards
• Review first article inspection (FAI)

Collaboration with Product Design

Act as a bridge between design and manufacturing.

Responsibilities:

• Review product drawings and specifications
• Ensure design can be manufactured reliably
• Recommend design improvements for quality, regulatory and safety
• Participate in design review meetings

Example:

• Improve hook design to prevent breakage
• Increase rod thickness for load safety

Marketing & Customer Requirements

Understand customer and market expectations.

Examples:

• Product durability expectations
• Ease of installation
• Packaging quality
• Retailer requirements (such as Walmart packaging tests)

Translate marketing needs into measurable quality requirements

Quality Documentation & Standards

Create and maintain:

• Product specifications
• Inspection checklists
• Testing protocols
• Quality standards
• Compliance documentation

Required Skills

• Knowledge of consumer product safety standards
• Understanding of testing methods
• Manufacturing processes
• Statistical quality tools (SPC, control charts)
• Root cause analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)

Soft Skills

• Cross-functional communication
• Supplier management
• Problem solving
• Project management

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a related field (Engineering or equivalent experience, e.g., Quality Management).
• Proven experience in Engineering, quality control, preferably in the retail or consumer goods industry.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft software suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams and others.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Extended health care
• Dental care
• Vision care
• On-site parking
• Challenging position with much opportunity for growth.