Senior Quality Engineer

Job Description

This is a senior individual contributor and leadership role responsible for the full quality lifecycle of aerospace Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessels (COPVs) and flight structures. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Senior Quality Engineer owns the site AS9100 Quality Management System, leads cross-functional quality initiatives, and serves as the primary quality interface for customers, suppliers, and external auditors. The role carries direct influence over production acceptance, non-conformance disposition, and corrective action programs across a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Job Responsibilities:
Maintain and continuously improve the site AS9100/ISO 9001 Quality Management System, hosting external registrars and customer auditors
Oversee quality protocols across filament winding, autoclave curing, NDT, and cleanroom operations
Chair the Material Review Board (MRB) to disposition Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and execute containment actions
Lead formal root-cause investigations and drive implementation of corrective and preventive actions
Partner with procurement to audit suppliers, approve special processes, and resolve supplier corrective actions
Act as the primary customer liaison for source inspections, conformity audits, and quality escapes
Track and report quality KPIs including scrap rates, first-pass yield, and cost of poor quality
Interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications to support hardware acceptance
Mentor junior quality engineers and lead cross-functional teams on strategic quality initiatives

Experience Required:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials, or Industrial Engineering
5+ years in aerospace or defense quality engineering, with 2+ years in a leadership capacity
Deep practical knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards
Hands-on experience with welding, fabrication, and filament winding processes
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident) due to ITAR/EAR requirements
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Manager (CQM) preferred
Familiarity with Nadcap requirements for composites, NDT methods (RT, PT, UT), and chemical processing preferred
Experience with hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure vessel testing protocols preferred