Senior Quality Engineer – Aerospace & Defense

About the role

A growing defense manufacturing organization near Columbus, Mississippi is seeking a Senior Quality Engineer to strengthen product quality, manufacturing compliance, and quality-system performance across complex aerospace and defense programs. This is a hands-on position for an experienced Quality Engineer who can support production, lead investigations and audits, interpret technical requirements, and help maintain an AS9100-compliant Quality Management System.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection requirements, control plans, and sampling plans.
• Support compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, customer specifications, and internal Quality Management System requirements.
• Lead internal audits and support customer, registrar, and regulatory audits.
• Investigate nonconformances and drive root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, key characteristics, and critical product requirements.
• Support First Article Inspection documentation and production-readiness activities.
• Analyze quality data, identify trends, and recommend measurable process and product improvements.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and customers to resolve quality and compliance concerns.
• Monitor production and inspection activities to ensure products meet customer and contractual requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of Quality Engineering experience within aerospace, defense, aviation, precision manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry.
• Direct experience working within an AS9100-certified manufacturing environment.
• Experience with internal audits, nonconformance management, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Knowledge of First Article Inspection, preferably AS9102.
• Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and cross-functional problem-solving skills.

Preferred qualifications

• NADCAP experience.
• ASQ certification.
• Experience with PPAP, APQP, SPC, MSA, PFMEA, 8D, CAPA, or supplier quality.
• Experience supporting defense programs or government-contract manufacturing.
• Prior experience working directly with customer or regulatory auditors.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to applicable government contract and security requirements. Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance if required.

Full-time | Onsite | Bonus Eligible | Benefits | Relocation Assistance