Senior Quality and Process Engineer
About the role
Shift5 is the observability platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We’re a rapidly growing scale-up that specializes in cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance for operational technology (OT) systems across all defense vehicles and commercial aviation. We are a collaborative, passionate, and driven team of dynamic, multidisciplinary experts and we’re focused on helping our customers' fleets run smarter and safer by accessing and democratizing the volumes of onboard OT data generated by commercial and defense fleets. Come join us. Shift5 is seeking an experienced Senior Quality & Process Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for tracking product quality, implementing process improvements, designing and maintaining process controls, evaluating production defects, and serving as the key owner of the quality management system. You will balance disciplined quality assurance with practical business execution, helping the organization improve consistency, reduce risk, and scale effectively. Moving fluidly between enterprise-level process governance and detailed technical work, you'll troubleshoot production non-conformances alongside test engineers, analyze failure data to uncover systemic reliability patterns, and drive continuous improvement across our hardware and software operations.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the maintainer and primary company representative for the AS9100/ISO9000 Quality Management System, leading internal process/compliance audits, surveillance, and recertification activities.
- Triage, disposition, and ensure timely closure of non-conformances (NC); lead Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) initiatives to permanently resolve identified failure modes.
- Track, aggregate, and analyze line yield data, RMAs, and test failures to report yield trends, failure metrics, and QMS audit readiness to cross-functional leadership.
- Establish inspection criteria, acceptance standards, and quality checkpoints; support First Article Inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, final acceptance, and receiving inspection.
- Partner with Hardware, Software, and Test Engineering teams to support defect tracking, design transfer, and configuration control, driving Design for Manufacturability/Testability (DFM/DFT) feedback loops.
- Partner with Supply Chain to review supplier certifications, support supplier qualifications, conduct root cause investigations for non-conforming components, and manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
- Review contracts, statements of work, and customer requirements for quality obligations while ensuring company personnel are equipped with appropriate procedures and training.
Requirements
- 3-5 years of experience in quality-related engineering, quality management, or manufacturing quality roles.
- Direct experience managing an ISO9000/AS9100 system and certification, including handling non-conformances, corrective actions, and root cause analysis.
- Experience working in the manufacturing and testing of electronic assemblies containing both hardware and software components; familiarity with IPC and J-Standard specs.
- Demonstrated experience implementing process improvement tools in a deadline-driven environment and designing experiments to measure quality control.
- Strong written and oral communication skills with a proven ability to influence process owners and functional leaders without direct operational authority.
- U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain or hold a U.S. Government Security Clearance.
Qualifications
- AS9100 Internal or Lead Auditor certification; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
- Background in aerospace, defense, aviation, transportation, or other highly regulated industries; familiarity with DO-254 & DO-178.
- Familiarity with AS9102, AS9145, product lifecycle management (PLM), configuration management, and document-control systems.
- Ability to read schematics, wire harness drawings, work instructions, and BOMs, with hands-on experience using basic test equipment.