Quality Engineer

Summary:

This role serves as a key technical resource responsible for ensuring compliance with customer, industry, and company requirements while driving defect reduction, process improvement, and operational excellence. The Quality Engineer will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Customers to develop practical solutions that improve product quality and process performance.

Essential Responsibilities

• Review, interpret, and apply customer specifications, engineering drawings, industry standards, and contractual quality requirements.
• Provide guidance to Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams on implementing processes that meet customer and industry requirements.
• Analyze quality data using statistical methods to identify trends, evaluate process performance, and drive improvement initiatives.
• Conduct Measurement System Analysis (MSA), including Gage R&R studies, bias, linearity, and stability evaluations.
• Perform Statistical Process Control (SPC) and process capability studies (Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk).
• Lead investigations of product, process, supplier, and customer nonconformances.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto Analysis, and Fault Tree Analysis to determine root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Support internal, customer, and certification audits and ensure ongoing compliance with quality management system requirements.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans, control plans, PFMEAs, procedures, and quality documentation.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI), process qualification, and First Article Inspection (FAI) activities.
• Inspect and evaluate welded products for compliance with engineering drawings, customer specifications, and applicable welding standards.
• Support qualifications of welding procedures, welders, and welding processes.
• Review weld inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT) results and investigate weld-related nonconformances.
• Support manufacturing operations involving sheet metal fabrication, forming, bending, punching, laser cutting, and assembly processes.
• Investigate and resolve sheet metal quality issues, including dimensional variation, distortion, cracking, wrinkling, and surface defects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve product quality, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a Quality Engineering role within aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing, or a similar regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of quality systems, statistical analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience conducting Gage R&R and other Measurement System Analysis studies.
• Proficiency with statistical software such as Minitab, JMP, or equivalent.
• Experience leading 8D investigations and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and technical standards.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication and forming processes.
• Experience inspecting and evaluating welded assemblies.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP, and aerospace customer requirements.
• Knowledge of NDT methods including PT, MT, UT, and RT.

Key Skills

• Statistical Analysis & Data Interpretation
• Gage R&R / Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• SPC & Process Capability Analysis
• Root Cause Analysis (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone)
• CAPA Management
• Engineering Drawing & GD&T Interpretation
• Specification Review & Compliance
• Weld Inspection & Qualification
• Sheet Metal Forming & Fabrication
• PFMEA & Control Plans
• First Article Inspection (AS9102)
• Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Primarily sedentary work involving prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, mouse use, and handling documents.
• Visual acuity required to read computer screens, printed materials, and digital devices.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching within the office environment.
• Occasional lifting or carrying of light items such as files, office supplies, or a laptop (typically up to 10-20 pounds).
• Regular communication through speaking and hearing in person, by phone, and during virtual meetings.