Aerospace Quality Engineer

Aerospace Quality Engineer

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Aerospace Quality Engineer to join our dynamic quality assurance team. This critical role requires a professional who will ensure that all aerospace components and processes meet the stringent quality standards required by the aerospace industry. The successful candidate will serve as a key liaison between manufacturing, engineering, and quality departments while maintaining compliance with AS9100 standards and NADCAP requirements.

As an Aerospace Quality Engineer, you will be responsible for implementing and maintaining quality management systems, conducting thorough audits, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Your expertise in metallurgy will be essential in evaluating material properties, analyzing failure modes, and ensuring that all metallic components meet specification requirements for aerospace applications.

Position Summary

The Senior Aerospace Quality Engineer will be responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving quality processes throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. This role will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations to identify and resolve quality issues, reduce variation, improve processes, and ensure compliance with applicable aerospace standards and customer requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver with strong knowledge of aerospace manufacturing, quality systems, statistical methods, and root-cause analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality plans, procedures, and inspection strategies for aerospace manufacturing processes.
• Lead investigations of internal and customer quality issues using structured root-cause and corrective-action methodologies.
• Drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), 8D, and nonconformance resolution activities.
• Support and lead FAI/AS9102 First Article Inspections and ensure accurate documentation and compliance.
• Develop and maintain Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEA) and Control Plans.
• Apply statistical process control (SPC) and other data-driven methods to monitor and improve manufacturing processes.
• Analyze quality data, identify trends, and implement actions to reduce scrap, rework, defects, and customer escapes.
• Support supplier quality activities, including supplier corrective actions, audits, and performance improvement.
• Participate in internal, customer, and third-party quality audits.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, customer-specific requirements, and applicable aerospace regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering teams to improve process capability, product quality, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Quality Engineers, Inspectors, and other quality personnel.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, purchase orders, and customer requirements to establish appropriate quality controls.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) and production-readiness activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other quality improvement methodologies.
• Interface directly with customers and suppliers on quality-related matters as required.
• Maintain accurate quality records, reports, metrics, and documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of quality engineering experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing, or a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems and aerospace quality requirements.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with root-cause analysis, corrective action, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with SPC, process capability studies, measurement systems, and statistical analysis.
• Working knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, PPAP/APQP concepts, or equivalent aerospace quality tools.
• Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or similar professional certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Experience with aerospace customer requirements and regulatory standards.
• Experience working with NADCAP requirements or special processes.
• Experience with machining, sheet metal, composites, assembly, or other aerospace manufacturing processes.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and quality management systems.
• Experience leading customer and third-party audits.
• Experience mentoring junior Quality Engineers and Quality Inspectors.