Senior Quality Engineer | Build the Quality System Behind High-Rate Air Defense Production
Gardena, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
A Series A, venture-backed defense company building low-cost air defense systems is adding a senior quality engineer to shape how quality is managed as production moves well beyond prototype volumes. You will own the working mechanics of the quality system, from inspection planning and nonconformance handling to supplier oversight and first article approvals, and bring a data-driven, high-volume mindset to a team that builds complete systems in house.
This is a hands-on engineering seat close to the build. You will work every day with manufacturing, design, test and supply chain teammates, and you will report into the quality lead with a path to broader leadership as the function grows.
About Us
We are a venture-backed defense technology company in the Los Angeles area building affordable air defense systems engineered for volume. Subsystems are designed and built in house, which keeps iteration fast and puts quality, manufacturing and engineering in the same room. With a recent Series A behind us, our focus is turning proven designs into reliable hardware at rates the traditional defense industrial base rarely reaches.
Job Duties
- Build and maintain the quality procedures, work instructions and records that govern inspection, nonconformance, corrective action and first article work
- Design receiving, in-process and final inspection methods, including acceptance criteria and hold points suited to high-rate builds
- Manage the nonconformance process from end to end and lead corrective and preventive actions using structured root cause methods
- Apply statistical process control to production and supplier data to catch drift early and drive process improvement
- Contribute to DFMEA and PFMEA reviews and carry the results into control plans, inspection plans and work instructions
- Plan and run first article inspections under AS9102 and approve the resulting packages
- Evaluate acceptance test results and engineering changes for their effect on product quality
- Support supplier quality through certificate review, supplier nonconformance disposition and corrective action requests
- Track quality metrics, report on performance trends and help the team prioritize improvements
- Serve as an internal auditor and help keep the quality system audit-ready as the company scales
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing or a related technical field (exceptional equivalent experience considered)
- 7+ years of quality engineering experience in aerospace, defense, automotive or another high-reliability manufacturing environment
- Engineering-driven approach to problem solving, backed by hands-on technical work beyond inspection alone
- Working knowledge of AS9100, IATF 16949 or comparable quality standards
- Hands-on experience with NCR and CAPA systems, AS9102 first article inspection and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- Experience with DFMEA, PFMEA and control plans
- Experience applying SPC and data analysis in higher-volume production
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
- Internal auditor qualification, or willingness to obtain it
- U.S. person as defined by ITAR
Preferred Experience
- Quality ownership on complete system builds at volume (thousands of units) in aerospace, defense, automotive or similar industries
- Time at a fast-moving startup or high-growth hardware company
- Supplier quality background, including supplier audits and corrective action programs
- Standing up or significantly maturing parts of an AS9100 or similar quality management system
- 3D scanning or other portable measurement systems
Why Join Us
- Shape the quality function at a company moving from development into high-rate production
- Clear path toward quality leadership as the team and program grow
- Direct line between your work and hardware fielded for national defense
- Well-funded Series A company with strong demand
- Small, experienced team where your decisions are visible and valued
- Competitive salary with meaningful early-stage equity
Compensation Details
$160,000 - $200,000 + equity