Quality Engineer II

About the company

Twenty-Six Defense, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and aftermarket support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation markets. With facilities throughout the U.S., Twenty-Six Defense supports those who contribute to the national security of the United States. Twenty-Six Defense is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT), a global high-technology company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications.

About the role

The Quality Engineer I is responsible for supporting product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle in a highly regulated aerospace and defense environment. This role ensures compliance with customer, regulatory & internal quality requirements while driving continuous improvement initiatives to reduce risk and improve performance. The Quality Engineer I role works cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management and other functions of Quality to resolve production issues, improve process capability and ensure compliance to AS9100 and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

Production & Manufacturing Support

• Provide daily quality engineering support on the production floor
• Review and approve manufacturing plans (production files, MOI's, PI's, etc.)
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, customer flow-downs, and internal QMS procedures
• Support production readiness for new builds, configuration and engineering changes

Nonconformance & Corrective Action

• Support root cause & corrective action (RCCA) activities using 8D, 5WHY, Fishbone, PFMEA and other problem-solving tools, overtime develop the ability to lead these events
• Investigate internal nonconformances, rework, scrap and escape(s)
• Drive timely and effective corrective and preventative actions to prevent recurrence
• Support containment activities and risk assessments for quality issues affecting delivered or in-process hardware

Process Control & Improvement

• Monitor & analyze production quality data, trends, and defect metrics
• Support implementation and oversight of statistical process control (SPC), when required, and process capability improvements
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce variation, rework, and cost of poor quality
• Participate & lead in Lean/Six Sigma and waste-reduction activities within manufacturing

Inspection & Compliance

• Ensure inspection methods & acceptance criteria align with engineering drawings and specifications
• Support first article inspection (FAI) per AS9102 for production builds and process changes
• Assist in validation and control of special processes and critical manufacturing steps
• Ensure compliance with requirements for traceability, serialization and configuration control

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Manufacturing & operations to improve producibility and reduce quality risks
• Lead material review board (MRB) activities including technical input on dispositions and evaluations
• Interface with customer and government representatives during source inspections, audits and issue resolution
• Support internal & external audits and help drive closure of findings related to production processes

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree (STEM degree preferred)
• 0-3 years of experience in quality, manufacturing, or engineering (internships count)
• Lean/Six Sigma experience
• RCCA methodologies such as 5Whys, Fishbone, Pareto
• Hands-on experience supporting shop floor manufacturing operations

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma experience
• AS9100 experience
• FAA experience or designations (A&P, AI, DMIR, DER, DAR)
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
• Certified AS9100/ISO9001 Auditor
• Minitab or advanced Excel proficiency
• AS9102 FAI background
• Experience in MRB

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Critical thinking
• Data analysis
• Process improvement mindset
• Accountability and ownership

Travel & Physical Requirements

Minimal to no travel expected.

Benefits

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Long-Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees