Hardware Quality Assurance & Control Engineer

About the role

Research Innovations, Inc. (RII) is seeking a Hardware Quality Assurance & Control Engineer to support Dragonfly Systems. The role ensures quality, reliability, configuration control, and mission readiness of Dragonfly hardware products throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Incoming Inspection & Component Acceptance
• Inspect and verify incoming hardware components, subassemblies, and critical system elements against procurement specifications and approved engineering baselines.
• Validate component revision levels, serial numbers, firmware versions, and configuration data prior to production integration.
• Identify, document, and disposition incoming non-conformances while coordinating resolution efforts with vendors, procurement, and engineering teams.
• Maintain traceability records and quality documentation for all incoming hardware and materials.
• Assembly & Integration Quality Oversight
• Monitor and audit assembly workmanship for cable harness fabrication, RF interconnects, power distribution systems, and subsystem integration activities.
• Verify proper connector installation, cable routing, torque specifications, and assembly processes to ensure system reliability in operational environments.
• Inspect thermal management and active cooling installations for proper fitment, airflow performance, and mechanical integrity.
• Perform and witness first-article inspections for new hardware configurations, manufacturing processes, and product revisions.
• Functional Testing & RF Verification
• Conduct and oversee post-assembly system verification and functional checkout activities.
• Verify system startup, tuner operation, SDR functionality, RF signal paths, channel alignment, and antenna integration performance.
• Confirm GPS, navigation, timing, and synchronization functionality across integrated systems.
• Support RF performance validation, including bandwidth, tuner configuration, and signal collection performance requirements.
• Ensure integrated hardware and software systems meet acceptance criteria prior to customer delivery.
• Compliance, Testing & Final Acceptance
• Maintain documentation supporting compliance with customer-required military and environmental standards.
• Coordinate environmental, stress, acceptance, and qualification testing activities with engineering teams.
• Identify and escalate manufacturing or integration practices that could impact ruggedization, EMI/EMC performance, or certification compliance.
• Execute final acceptance test procedures (ATP) and verify complete system functionality prior to shipment.
• Validate system configuration, labeling, documentation, packaging, and shipment readiness.
• Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement
• Initiate, investigate, and manage Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) throughout production and testing activities.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain quality metrics and provide reporting on production yield, defect trends, field returns, and quality performance indicators.
• Develop and maintain inspection procedures, work instructions, quality checklists, and test documentation.
• Support configuration management activities by ensuring engineering changes and product revisions are accurately reflected in manufacturing documentation.
• Participate in design reviews and manufacturability assessments to improve future product quality and production scalability.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Manufacturing Quality, or Hardware Test within defense, aerospace, telecommunications, electronics, or related industries.
• Experience performing incoming inspections, assembly audits, final acceptance testing, and production quality verification for complex hardware systems.
• Familiarity with RF systems, software-defined radios (SDRs), communications equipment, electronic systems, or sensor platforms.
• Experience investigating hardware failures, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of configuration management, engineering change processes, and product lifecycle documentation.
• Experience maintaining quality records, inspection reports, test documentation, and manufacturing traceability.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, assembly documentation, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical specifications.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple quality initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

EVEN BETTER

• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Experience supporting military, intelligence community, or defense technology programs.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-704, MIL-S-901, DO-160, or similar military and aerospace standards.
• Hands-on experience with RF testing, spectrum systems, SIGINT, Electronic Warfare (EW), or communications platforms.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent quality certification.
• Experience supporting low-rate initial production (LRIP), rapid prototyping, or scaling hardware production environments.
• Familiarity with NCR, CAPA, First Article Inspection (FAI), and production quality management systems.
• Experience using quality metrics and statistical analysis to drive manufacturing process improvements.
• Background supporting ruggedized, deployable, or mission-critical hardware systems.
• Experience participating in design reviews and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) initiatives.