QA Engineer

FLSA STATUS:   Exempt

DEPARTMENT:   Quality

DIRECT REPORTS: Quality Manager

Position Summary  

A quality engineer plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the highest standards of quality, compliance, and operational excellence within aerospace manufacturing operations. The role is responsible for ensuring compliance with aerospace regulatory and customer requirements, leading complex root cause investigations, supporting risk-based decision-making, and partnering cross-functionally to safeguard product integrity and customer confidence. This position also serves as a key leadership resource within the Quality organization and provides coverage for the Quality Manager as required. Strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to influence teams at all levels are essential to success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, and customer-specific aerospace quality requirements.
• Provide leadership in the interpretation and application of quality system requirements across manufacturing, inspection, supplier quality, and electronic assembly processes.
• Serve as acting Quality Manager when required, supporting daily quality operations, customer communications, audit activities, and organizational leadership initiatives.
• Drive cross-functional root cause investigations utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5-Why, and Fishbone analysis, ensuring effective and sustainable corrective actions.
• Serve as a technical expert in interpreting complex engineering drawings and GD&T requirements in accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Lead and approve First Article Inspections (FAI) in compliance with AS9102 requirements, including customer submissions through portals such as Net-Inspect.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans, procedures, measurement strategies, and calibration compliance programs to support product conformity.
• Analyze quality metrics, SPC data, and KPI trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, reduce scrap, and lower Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Operate, support, and troubleshoot automated test equipment, including DIT-MCO and Cirris testing systems.
• Program and interpret electrical schematics and test parameters for continuity, hipot, and functional testing applications.
• Lead and support internal, customer, and third-party audits while promoting audit readiness throughout the organization.
• Mentor and develop junior quality personnel while providing leadership and influence across cross-functional manufacturing and engineering teams.
• Exercise strong decision-making authority to protect product integrity, including the ability to stop production or shipment when quality standards are at risk.
• Foster a proactive, risk-based quality culture aligned with aerospace industry expectations and customer requirements.

Minimum Qualifications 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 and/or J-STD-001 certification preferred.

Experience:  

• Minimum of 5 years of aerospace quality engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years directly participating in AS9100 internal or external audits (10+ audits led or actively participated in), including experience as Lead Auditor, Internal Auditor, or primary point of contact during registrar or customer audits.
• 3+ years personally owning Corrective Action Reports (CARs) from initiation through effectiveness verification (25+ CARs), using structured root cause methodologies such as 5 Why, Fishbone, 8D, and DMAIC.
• 2–3+ years completing AS9102 First Article Inspections, including 20+ full FAIs (Forms 1, 2 & 3) and the ability to independently interpret engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.
• Proven experience supporting aerospace customer audits, regulatory audits, and customer-facing quality initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and digital quality management systems.
• Experience of working directly with aerospace customers and suppliers.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, and J-STD-001 standards.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership in aerospace manufacturing quality systems and operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and influence cross-functional teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to operational excellence and product integrity.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment.
• Proactive approach to risk management, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Bilingual communication skills preferred (English/Spanish highly desirable).
• Ability to read, interpret, and program electrical schematics and test configurations.

Physical Requirements  

• Must be able to stand and sit for extended periods, and occasionally and safely lift to 25lbs. 
• Visual acuity is necessary to identify defects, read labels, and interpret specifications or measurement values accurately.
• Must show proficiency in the operation of all necessary equipment within the department.
• Must be able to work in a noisy work environment, occasionally loud due to cleaning tools and other surrounding machinery.