Principal Quality Engineer - Aerospace

On behalf of our client, we are seeking a Principal Quality Engineer to join a well-established aerospace tooling and ground support equipment business headquartered in Cincinnati. The organization serves commercial aviation, MRO, OEM, and defense customers, delivering engine tooling, ground support equipment, and bespoke assemblies. Currently in a period of strong expansion, the company supports licensed tooling demands for leading commercial engine programs alongside line, hangar, and shop maintenance requirements for an expanding international customer base. In this role, you will serve as a hands‑on technical quality authority within a high‑mix, low‑volume aerospace setting centered on intricate tooling, ground support equipment, and engineered assemblies. You will take ownership of quality performance across assigned products, processes, and suppliers, helping to advance product conformity, ISO compliance, customer satisfaction, supplier performance, and ongoing improvement. What You’ll Be Doing: Lead continuous improvement efforts aimed at reducing variation, enhancing process capability, and reinforcing long‑term quality performance. Operate as the technical quality authority for designated products, processes, and suppliers. Contribute to internal, external, customer, and supplier audits, including ISO9001 compliance work. Examine, sign off on, and provide technical oversight of inspection plans, First Article Inspections (FAI), and conformance strategies for complex or critical products. Direct RCCA investigations spanning internal, supplier, and customer issues, applying structured problem‑solving methods such as 8D, 5‑Why, and Ishikawa/Fishbone. Oversee supplier quality activities across a global supplier network, encompassing audits, supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), performance reviews, and supplier development. Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and leadership to pinpoint, evaluate, and reduce quality risks. Act as the principal quality point of contact for customer and supplier escalations, covering audits, complaints, corrective actions, and issue resolution. Track, evaluate, and report on quality metrics, trends, supplier performance, and customer quality concerns. Support MRB activity for escalated nonconformances, including risk‑based dispositions such as rework, repair, use‑as‑is, scrap, or customer approval. Offer guidance and training on GD&T, inspection techniques, and quality tools. Drive containment, root cause analysis, corrective action rollout, effectiveness verification, and recurrence prevention. Build and maintain quality standards, inspection plans, work instructions, and supporting documentation. Essential Able to work onsite in Cincinnati, Ohio. A minimum of 10 years within a quality assurance or quality engineering function, including at least 7 years in a dedicated Quality Engineering role across aerospace and/or manufacturing. Practical experience with RCCA and structured problem‑solving tools such as 8D, 5‑Why, Ishikawa/Fishbone, or comparable methodologies. Familiarity with inspection plans, FAI, technical drawings, GD&T, and nonconformance management. A solid technical manufacturing quality foundation, preferably in aerospace tooling, ground support equipment, MRO, complex mechanical assemblies, precision machining, hydraulics, or similar engineered products. Strong communication abilities and the capacity to operate cross‑functionally with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, leadership, customers, and suppliers. Supplier quality experience, including SCARs, supplier audits, performance management, and supplier development. Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally as needed. A demonstrated history of leading complex quality investigations and corrective actions across both customer and supplier issues. Advanced command of ISO9001 quality systems. Working familiarity with inspection tools and technologies including CMMs, PCMMs, and Romer/FARO arms. Experience handling customer quality escalations, audit responses, corrective action responses, and issue resolution. Competence with Microsoft Office. Preferred Background in APQP, SPC, process capability, and advanced quality planning. A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field. Substantial relevant experience may be accepted in place of a degree. Experience engaging with global suppliers and international quality standards. Exposure to AS9100 or aerospace customer quality requirements. A foundational grasp of metallurgy and welding principles. CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, ISO9001 Lead Auditor, or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification. Technical insight into complex precision machined components, mechanical assemblies, and hydraulic assemblies. ERP/MRP experience, with Epicor experience preferred. Compensation: $80 000 - $110 000 (depending on experience) Tuition reimbursement. Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Employee referral program. 401(k) featuring a company match, presently 5%, with eligibility following three months. Career development and professional training opportunities, including manager and quality training programs being introduced as part of continued growth. Paid time off, holidays, and sick leave. Benefits take effect on the first of the month following hire. Individual contributors accrue two weeks of vacation and five sick days. Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. 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