The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring products, processes, and quality management system activities comply with customer, regulatory, and aerospace industry requirements, including AS9100, customer-specific requirements, FAA regulations (as applicable), and internal quality standards. This role drives continuous improvement, supports manufacturing and supplier quality initiatives, performs root cause analysis, and ensures the delivery of conforming aerospace products that meet safety, reliability, and performance expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management System

Maintain compliance with AS9100 Quality Management System requirements.
Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
Assist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality procedures, work instructions, and process controls.

Manufacturing Quality Support

Review manufacturing processes for compliance with engineering, customer, and regulatory requirements.
Develop and maintain inspection plans, control plans, and quality standards.
Support First Article Inspections (FAI) in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
Evaluate nonconforming material and participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
Monitor process performance and identify opportunities for defect reduction and process improvement.

Corrective and Preventive Actions

Lead investigations of nonconformances, customer complaints, and internal quality issues.
Utilize root cause analysis methodologies including:

8D
5 Why
Fishbone (Ishikawa)
FMEA
Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Track effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure timely closure.

Supplier Quality

Support supplier qualification and performance monitoring activities.
Review supplier corrective actions and verify effectiveness.
Participate in supplier audits and source inspections as required.
Analyze supplier quality data and drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers.

Product and Process Validation

Support Process Validation and Process Capability studies.
Conduct Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gage R&R studies.
Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC) techniques to monitor manufacturing performance.
Ensure validation documentation meets customer and regulatory requirements.

Customer Support

Act as quality representative during customer visits and audits.
Review customer quality requirements and ensure deployment throughout the organization.
Support customer investigations and corrective action responses.

Continuous Improvement

Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma quality improvement projects.
Analyze quality metrics and identify trends.
Drive initiatives that improve product quality, delivery performance, and operational efficiency

Required Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in quality, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.

Experience

3-7 years of quality engineering experience in an aerospace, aviation, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environment.
Experience working within an AS9100-certified organization.
Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
Experience conducting root cause investigations and corrective actions.

Technical Skills

Working knowledge of:

AS9100
AS9102
ISO 9001
FAA regulations (as applicable)
Customer aerospace quality requirements
Proficient with quality tools including:

FMEA
SPC
MSA
Control Plans
Process Capability Studies
APQP/PPAP concepts
Ability to interpret:

Engineering drawings
GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing)
Specifications and technical standards
Experience with ERP and electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS).
Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Excel data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
Aerospace manufacturing experience involving machining, assembly, welding, brazing, and special processes
Internal Auditor certification
Ability to apply AI-based tools and technologies, where appropriate, to support quality management activities, data analysis, problem-solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Competencies

Analytical thinking and problem solving
Attention to detail
Risk-based decision making
Effective communication and presentation skills
Project management capability
Team collaboration and leadership
Customer-focused mindset
Continuous improvement orientation

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Internal and external defect rates
Corrective action closure effectiveness
Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
Customer complaint reduction
Audit findings and closure performance
First Pass Yield (FPY)
Supplier quality performance
On-time completion of quality initiatives

Working Conditions

Combination of offices, laboratory, and manufacturing floor environments.
Frequent interaction with production personnel, suppliers, customers, and auditors.
Occasional travel for supplier audits, customer visits, and training.

SQA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit and qualifications, and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

This position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles.

Must be ITAR compliant.