Staff Engineer, Quality Assurance

About the role

Join a defense technology company focused on intelligent systems for service members and civilians. This role involves ensuring the quality of weapons systems and subsystems through all stages, from planning to acceptance. You will contribute to the development and maintenance of critical quality documentation and lead efforts to resolve quality issues.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee quality planning, inspections, and acceptance for weapons systems and their components.
• Examine engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions for quality adherence.
• Create and maintain quality records, inspection plans, and nonconformance reports.
• Lead investigations into manufacturing defects, supplier issues, and test failures to determine root causes and implement solutions.
• Participate in material review board activities and manage nonconforming materials.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to enhance product reliability and process capabilities.
• Analyze quality data to identify areas for improvement in defect rates and performance.
• Engage in supplier quality activities, including issue resolution and ensuring compliance.
• Confirm adherence to aerospace, defense, customer, and internal quality standards.
• Foster a workplace culture that prioritizes safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in STEM, Quality Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience in developmental test operations.
• 5-10 years of experience with ground and flight testing, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering.
• Background in quality engineering, ground and flight test execution, maintenance, manufacturing engineering, or aerospace hardware.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and inspection requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and quality documentation.
• Familiarity with inspection methods, measurement tools, and manufacturing processes in aerospace or complex hardware development.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities.
• Capability to work effectively with cross-functional teams including engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain.
• Experience coordinating with manufacturing, engineering, and suppliers to resolve quality issues.
• A detail-oriented approach with a strong commitment to product quality and process discipline.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced ground and flight test environment.
• Willingness to travel and work outdoors at test ranges, including overtime and weekend coverage as needed.

Nice to have

• 10+ years of experience with developmental or operational ground and flight test, unmanned aircraft systems, or aerospace systems engineering.
• Knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001, FAA, DoW, and other aerospace and defense quality standards.
• Experience with first article inspections.
• Experience supporting prototype aircraft, weapon systems, or mission-critical aerospace systems.
• Familiarity with configuration management, drawing release, and engineering change processes.
• Experience using quality tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, FMEA, control plans, or process capability analysis.
• Certified Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or a related certification.

Skills & tools

• Quality Engineering
• Ground and Flight Test
• Unmanned/Manned Aircraft Systems
• Aerospace Systems Engineering
• Nonconformance Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Corrective Action
• Trend Analysis
• Quality Documentation
• Inspection Methods
• Measurement Tools
• Manufacturing Processes
• AS9100
• ISO9001
• 8D
• 5 Whys
• Fishbone Diagrams
• FMEA
• Control Plans
• Process Capability Analysis

Practical notes

Compensation includes salary, bonus, benefits, and equity for full-time regular employees. Temporary employees receive a salary and temporary benefits after 60 days. Salary varies based on skills, experience, certifications, and location. All offers are subject to a cleared background check and potential reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.