Quality Systems Engineer

Quality Systems Engineer

Torrance, California, United States

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact.

The Quality Systems Engineer will be responsible for managing Castelion's quality management system and ensuring compliance with aerospace industry standards and regulatory requirements across all sites. Reporting to the Quality and Compliance Manager, this role will lead internal and external audits, maintain certifications (AS9100, NADCAP, and others), coordinate corrective actions. This position will also support the Supplier Quality team by conducting AS9100 audits of suppliers, evaluating suppliers' compliance on an as needed basis.

This role requires creative, non-traditional thinking about compliance—someone who can embrace the spirit of AS9100 while making compliance as frictionless as possible for the organization. The successful candidate will operate as a true support function, partnering with teams to solve compliance challenges rather than simply identifying issues and assigning corrective actions. As the company scales, this role will be instrumental in establishing robust compliance processes and may grow to lead a small team.

Responsibilities

Quality Management System (QMS) Oversight

• Manage and maintain Castelion's non-traditional Quality Management System in accordance with AS9100 and other applicable standards, while challenging conventional approaches to make compliance more efficient.
• Oversee document control processes, ensuring procedures, work instructions, and quality records are current, accessible, and compliant—while streamlining wherever possible.
• Conduct regular gap analyses and risk assessments to identify and address compliance vulnerabilities.
• Facilitate management reviews and ensure timely closure of action items.
• Drive continuous improvement of QMS processes to support rapid growth and scaling, always seeking creative solutions that maintain compliance rigor while reducing friction.
• Manage corrective actions as they apply to the QMS. Ensuring timely investigation, root cause analysis, and closure of quality issues.
• Take ownership of successful resolution and track and trend non-conformances to identify systemic issues and drive preventive actions.
• Monitor effectiveness of corrective actions and prevent recurrence.

Audit Management

• Plan, schedule, and conduct internal audits across all Castelion sites to ensure compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, and customer-specific requirements.
• Coordinate external audits including registrar audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Serve as a liaison with external auditors and certification bodies (e.g., registrars, PRI for NADCAP, customer quality representatives).
• Lead preparation activities for all audits, including cross-functional coordination and evidence gathering.
• Identify audit findings and work collaboratively with process owners to develop and implement effective solutions.

Supplier Quality Support

• Conduct AS9100 style audits of suppliers on behalf of the Supplier Quality team to assess compliance and capability.
• Provide detailed audit reports and recommendations to support supplier approval and qualification decisions.
• Support supplier development activities by identifying gaps and partnering to implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate supplier corrective actions and track closure of supplier-related quality issues.

Certification and Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain AS9100 certification and lead recertification activities.
• Manage NADCAP certifications and coordinate specialty audits (e.g., welding, NDT, heat treat).
• Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), DFARS, ITAR, EAR, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor changes to industry standards and regulations, assess impact, and implement necessary updates.
• Support pursuit of additional certifications as required by customers or business development (e.g., ISO 14001, specific customer certifications).
• Demonstrate creative compliance approaches to auditors and certification bodies, building trust in non-traditional methods while maintaining full conformance.
• Coordinate with the Program Management team to implement customer requirements and inquiries, and corrective action requests.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Support

• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management to embed quality and compliance considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Serve as a true support function—working alongside teams to solve compliance challenges rather than acting as a compliance gatekeeper.
• Provide hands-on compliance guidance and implementation support to all departments.
• Take ownership of compliance outcomes, not just identification of non-conformances.
• Ensure quality requirements are understood and integrated into operational processes in practical, effective ways.
• Support new site stand-ups and expansions with quality system implementation.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in aerospace quality, compliance, or audit roles with direct AS9100 experience.
• AS9100 Lead Auditor certification required.
• Demonstrated experience conducting internal and external audits.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• ASQ certification (CQA, CQE, or CQM) highly desirable.
• NADCAP auditor certification or experience with NADCAP audit processes.
• Experience conducting supplier audits and supplier quality assessments.
• Experience with defense contractor compliance requirements (FAR, DFARS, ITAR).
• Experience implementing or maintaining quality systems in high-growth, fast-paced manufacturing environments.
• Track record of challenging conventional quality approaches and implementing innovative, compliant solutions.
• Experience operating as a quality support function rather than a compliance enforcement role.
• Familiarity with additional standards such as ISO 14001, ISO 13485, or customer-specific requirements (e.g., DoD, NASA).
• Experience with quality management software and enterprise systems.
• Strong understanding of risk-based thinking and process approach methodologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to interact effectively with external auditors, customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive compliance in a fast-paced environment through collaboration rather than mandates.

Benefits And Perks

• Employee Equity: Meaningful equity for all full-time employees - share value has increased 150x in three years
• Personal Time Off: Four (4) weeks of paid time off to unplug, reset, and come back sharp—velocity matters, burnout doesn't
• Company Paid Holidays: Ten (10) company paid holidays
• Medical: We offer plans at 100% employee covered and 80% of dependent coverage
• Dental & Vision: We cover 90% employees and 80% for dependents to ensure you and your family have access to quality preventive and ongoing care
• FSA/HSA: To support long-term health and financial resilience, we offer FSA and HSA options that allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible medical and dependent care expenses
• Retirement: 401k plan offered to support long term financial growth along side high-impact, high-velocity work
• Paid Parental Leave: We support growing families with meaningful time to bond and recover. Birthing parents are eligible for up to 10 weeks of paid leave, while non-birthing parents may take up to 4 weeks of paid leave. This time can be used for pre-natal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical needs—ensuring every parent has the support they need during this important life moment.8-weeks of paid parental leave for all parents. Additional paid pregnancy leave for CA employees
• Meals & Catering: Frequently catered lunches and team meals, plus company-covered meals when extra time or effort is required
• Snacks & Beverages: Fully stocked kitchen with unlimited snacks and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the day
• Performance & Fitness: $100 monthly fitness stipend to support peak performance and health, both inside and outside of work
• EV Charging: Onsite electric vehicle charging available