About Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies is a global leader in prestige beauty, founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder and built on an enduring belief in creativity, high-touch service, and entrepreneurial spirit. As an employer, the Group offers talent the scale of an international house with the energy of distinctive brands across skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. Its culture values innovation, inclusion, learning, and responsible growth, inviting professionals to shape consumer experiences from laboratory to counter, digital platform to boardroom. Employees join a purpose-led organization where heritage, artistry, and scientific excellence meet to define the future of luxury beauty.
The Quality Engineer II leads quality operations at the Melville manufacturing site, driving quality strategy, managing regulatory compliance, and overseeing complex investigations across manufacturing and packaging operations. This role combines individual technical contributions—including advanced root cause analysis, statistical process control, and new product launch oversight—with people leadership of a small quality team. The position operates with considerable independence, influencing cross-functional and global initiatives to sustain process performance and strengthen the organization's quality culture.
Role & Responsibilities
- Provide oversight and direction for consumer complaint, deviation, and quality inquiry investigations; review investigation quality, trending, and effectiveness of corrective actions to prevent recurrence
- Lead complex, high-risk, and systemic investigations across manufacturing and packaging operations using advanced root cause analysis tools and risk-based CAPA methodologies
- Provide technical guidance for on-floor troubleshooting, manufacturing equipment challenges, and functional component issues; support escalation and resolution of quality-related disruptions
- Serve as a site resource for statistical process control (SPC), data analysis, and advanced trending methodologies; conduct and oversee analysis to identify trends and improvement opportunities
- Lead quality engineering projects using statistical tools and structured problem-solving methodologies; serve as the Melville Site QA representative on global and cross-functional programs
- Provide quality leadership and oversight for new product launch activities, including component evaluations, line tests, first production runs, in-process inspections, and post-trial evaluations
- Guide design FMEA (dFMEA) and process FMEA (pFMEA) activities, process mapping, and risk mitigation efforts across the product lifecycle
- Ensure appropriate packaging test methods are selected, developed, and implemented for new package designs, new manufacturing lines, and modified processes
- Serve as a GMP and compliance leader; support internal audits and external inspections with strong technical and regulatory knowledge
- Lead, coach, and develop a small team of Quality Engineer I roles and Quality Specialists, strengthening team capability in data analysis, statistical thinking, and quality engineering practices
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Science, or equivalent experience (10+ years in a related field)
- 5+ years of quality engineering experience in a fast-paced regulated manufacturing environment
- Advanced proficiency with root cause analysis tools and statistical process control methodologies
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing technical teams
- Expertise in GMP compliance, FDA regulations, ISO 22716, CSAR, and MFDS expectations
- Proficiency with FMEA methodologies (design and process)
- Experience with new product launch processes, process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and equipment qualification
- ASQ or Lean Certification preferred
Skills
Experience
5+ years of quality engineering experience in a fast-paced regulated manufacturing environment, demonstrating expertise in complex investigations, statistical problem-solving, and process validation. Leadership experience managing technical teams and driving cross-functional quality initiatives is required. Candidates with 10+ years in a related field may substitute for the formal Bachelor's degree requirement.
Education
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Science, or equivalent experience (10+ years in a related field).
Workplace
This position is based in Melville, New York, USA, within easy reach of New York.
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Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 85,000 to USD 139,600 per annum.
Benefits
Health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance), wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, participation in a highly competitive bonus program with the possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results.
Culture
The Estée Lauder Companies fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for prestige beauty are deeply valued. As a global house of distinctive brands, it offers employees an environment that encourages innovation, professional growth, and a shared commitment to excellence and consumer inspiration.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Estée Lauder Companies, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Senior Quality Engineer», «Quality Operations Leader», «Manufacturing Quality Specialist», «Quality Assurance Engineer», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.