Sr. Quality Engineer

Please review the job details below.

Lanteris Space is currently seeking a Senior Quality Engineer to join our team in Palo Alto, CA.

The Senior Quality Engineer is a strategic technical leader responsible for improving product quality, process performance, and operational effectiveness through the application of quality engineering, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, industrial engineering principles, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision making.

This role partners across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Test, and Program Management organizations to identify systemic risks, eliminate recurring defects, optimize business and manufacturing processes, improve throughput, reduce variation, and enhance overall organizational performance. The successful candidate will lead initiatives that shift quality from a reactive inspection-based approach to a prevention-focused model emphasizing quality at the source, predictive analytics, process optimization, and continuous improvement.

This position serves as a trusted advisor to leadership, mentor to Quality Engineers, and technical leader for cross-functional initiatives that improve quality, productivity, schedule performance, and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-level quality improvement initiatives focused on defect prevention, process capability, first-pass yield improvement, and reduction of Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Apply Lean Six Sigma methodologies, advanced statistical analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop and deploy advanced analytics, business intelligence solutions, and emerging AI capabilities to improve quality prediction, root cause identification, risk detection, and organizational decision making.
• Develop executive-level dashboards, performance metrics, and reporting systems that provide visibility into quality, manufacturing, supply chain, and program performance.
• Analyze complex datasets and business processes to identify trends, emerging risks, recurring failure modes, process variation, bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead cross-functional investigations involving quality escapes, nonconformances, supplier issues, production challenges, and systemic process failures to drive sustainable solutions.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program teams to implement quality-at-the-source strategies, optimize workflows, improve process controls, reduce reliance on inspection, and increase operational throughput.
• Lead value stream mapping, process re-engineering, and future-state design initiatives that improve quality, flow, labor utilization, responsiveness, and overall business performance.
• Support new product introduction and production programs through quality planning, risk management, design reviews, verification, validation, process qualification, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Mentor and develop Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams through coaching, technical leadership, and training in quality engineering, Lean Six Sigma, industrial engineering, and data-driven decision-making methodologies.
• Influence organizational performance through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership of initiatives that drive measurable business results in quality, productivity, schedule, and customer satisfaction.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, statistics, operations management, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, continuous improvement, or a related technical field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering, business administration, operations management, or related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, space systems, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Experience with AS9100, AS9145, APQP, FMEA, SPC, DOE, and advanced quality planning methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives and influencing organizational change.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, statistical methods, process improvement methodologies, and root cause analysis techniques.
• Experience developing and utilizing data analytics, dashboards, and performance metrics to drive business decisions.
• Excellent communication, leadership, facilitation, and project management skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Power BI, Minitab, SQL, Python, or other analytics platforms.
• Experience developing predictive analytics, machine learning models, or AI-enabled business solutions.
• Experience mentoring Lean Six Sigma Green Belts, Black Belts, and technical professionals.

Success Measures

• Reduction in Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Improved First Pass Yield and Process Capability
• Reduced Recurring Nonconformances and Quality Escapes
• Reduced NCR Aging and Rework
• Improved Throughput and Schedule Performance
• Increased Visibility Through Executive Dashboards and Analytics
• Successful Implementation of Strategic Improvement Projects
• Development of Organizational Problem-Solving and Continuous Improvement Capability

In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate's starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.
• The base pay for this position within California is: $123,000.00 - $205,000.00 annually.
For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.
Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.
The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.


The date of posting can be found on the Lanteris Space Systems Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via the Lanteris Space Systems Career page.

Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.