Quality Engineer

About the role

The Quality Engineer is a technical leader responsible for improving product quality, process performance, and operational effectiveness through the application of quality engineering, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, statistical analysis, industrial engineering principles, and data-driven decision making. This role partners across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Test, and Program Management to identify systemic risks, eliminate recurring defects, optimize processes, improve throughput, reduce variation, and strengthen quality at the source. The Staff Quality Engineer leads cross-functional improvement initiatives, provides technical expertise in quality engineering and problem solving, and serves as a trusted advisor to functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality engineering initiatives within assigned areas to improve product quality, process capability, first-pass yield, cost of poor quality, and overall operational performance.
• Perform quality assurance functions for assigned manufacturing areas, including audits, facilitating Material Review Boards (MRBs) and Working Corrective Action Boards (WCABs), managing non-conformances and router approvals, and recognizing performance problems, identifying their causes, and assisting in their resolution.
• Lead structured problem-solving and corrective action activities, including WCABs, involving nonconformances, quality escapes, recurring defects, process failures, and other complex quality issues using Lean Six Sigma, statistical, and root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Review manufacturing and product processes and associated documentation, including manufacturing flow, assembly and process procedures, test procedures, drawings, specifications, work instructions, and other technical documentation, to identify risks and opportunities for improved quality and process performance.
• Analyze quality and operational data to identify trends, variation, emerging risks, failure modes, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement; develop metrics, dashboards, and other analytical tools to improve decision making and organizational visibility.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Test, and Program Management to implement quality-at-the-source strategies, strengthen process controls, prevent defects, and improve manufacturing and business processes.
• Support new product introduction and production programs through quality planning, risk assessment, design and process reviews, FMEA, process qualification, verification/validation, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Lead process improvement and re-engineering initiatives including value stream mapping, process mapping, Lean/5S, process capability improvement, waste reduction, and development of future-state processes; implement sustainable process improvements and safeguards using statistical, Lean Six Sigma, and data-driven approaches.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and training to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams in quality engineering, problem solving, Lean Six Sigma, data analysis, and continuous improvement; lead teams and influence results without direct authority.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, statistics, operations management, or a related technical discipline.
• 5 years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, continuous improvement, or a related technical field.

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, space systems, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management system requirements and their practical application within engineering and manufacturing environments.
• Experience with internal and supplier audits, audit planning, audit execution, objective evidence, nonconformity identification, corrective action, and audit follow-up.
• Experience supporting certification, surveillance, or customer audits and maintaining organizational audit readiness.
• Experience with QMS documentation, document control, controlled procedures, work instructions, forms, records, and revision/version control.
• Strong technical writing skills with experience developing, revising, and maintaining engineering, manufacturing, quality, or business documentation.
• Experience with AS9145, APQP, FMEA, SPC, DOE, process capability, statistical analysis, and other advanced quality planning and process improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience applying root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and structured problem solving.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives and influencing organizational change without direct authority.
• Experience with new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, process qualification, design reviews, and transition from development to production.
• Experience developing and utilizing data analytics, dashboards, performance metrics, and business intelligence tools to drive quality and operational decisions.
• Advanced proficiency with Power BI, Minitab, SQL, Python, or other analytics platforms.
• Experience applying artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation, or other emerging technologies to quality or operational improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to identify systemic process risks and implement effective preventive controls and error-proofing strategies.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, process re-engineering, Lean/5S, and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication, facilitation, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor Quality Engineers, Lean Six Sigma practitioners, and cross-functional technical professionals.
• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, engineering teams, manufacturing organizations, and leadership on complex quality issues.

Pay

The base pay for this position within California is $104,000.00 – $173,000.00 annually. For all other states, geographic cost of labor is used to develop market-driven ranges, so each hiring location may have a different range. The successful candidate’s starting pay is determined based on job-related factors including experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions; candidates with the minimum necessary experience should not expect to receive the upper end of the range.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health and welfare insurance
• 401(k) for eligible employees