Quality Engineer

About Us:

For over 50 years, Pexco Aerospace ( has been dedicated to fostering a culture where all employees feel welcome and encouraged to contribute to the company's long-term success. Pexco Aerospace is the world's leading designer and producer of aerospace components made from highly engineered resins and polymers. Pexco supplies parts to virtually all OEMs and airlines worldwide with a primary focus on commercial aircraft interiors. Based in Yakima, WA, our 145,000-square-foot facility houses Research & Development, Engineering, Tooling Design and Production, allowing us to quickly transform ideas into reality, constantly exceeding our customers' expectations.


Our central location allows easy access to the Yakima, Columbia, and Snake Rivers, mountains and lowland lakes, abundant greenways, and scenery you'll have to see to believe. In Yakima, you'll find 300 days of sunshine a year in a city nestled in a valley surrounded by camel-colored desert hills. You'll enjoy four distinct seasons and endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Should you choose to hit the road, Seattle, Portland, and Spokane are within a three-hour drive, close enough to enjoy without having to deal with a grid-locked life.

We offer a generous benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA plans, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, AD&D, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, EAP, legal, tuition assistance, 401k plan with employer match, and profit sharing, eighty hours of vacation, 8 paid holidays, and 7 days of personal time. Vacation and personal time are prorated. Pay Range is 70K-120K. The final salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined based on factors such as relevant skills, specific experience, and internal equity.

You must be authorized to work in the United States and as applicable, you must be eligible to receive authorization for access to controlled equipment and technology.

Position Summary:

The Quality Engineering role drives value by: quality planning for product conformity in manufacturing using the Product Realization Process (PRP), reviewing of customer requirements and direction of production for compliance, proactive and reactive continual improvement and corrective action to support customer satisfaction, analysis of data to inform the organization of performance or deficiencies, and acts as the customer voice and liaison for quality concerns or questions.

Essential Functions:

• Active participation with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Sales in the PRP process to review and provide input to new part / process feasibility as it pertains to quality and manufacturability. These processes are with a focus on risk analysis and mitigation and may include facilitating PFMEA, or other quality management tools as appropriate.
• Works closely with Sales, Customer Service and Engineering personnel to ensure customer quality expectations are clarified, and that Pexco Aerospace's Quality and Manufacturing capabilities are understood and maintained throughout the onboarding of new or revised products.
• Supports and interprets procedures, instructions and guidelines that control or affect Quality. Assist others in engineering, drawing interpretations and measurement methods.
• Conduct customer specification reviews in collaboration and support of the Engineering and Sales teams.
• Provides guidance and hands-on support to personnel necessary for Production and Quality operations as assigned.
• Administration - Trends / Charts / Reports for the quality performance of the plant and individual functions, departments, or product teams.
• Administration - Act as gatekeeper and system administrator for document control systems as assigned.
• Provides training and hands-on support of Quality department processes and criteria for departmental or other personnel tasked with product-related functions - as appropriate or directed.
• Facilitates and actions internal and external corrective action processes in a timely manner.
• Facilitates and actions Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
• Responds to customer's quality concerns, queries, and actions.
• Facilitate preventative actions toward continual improvements in efficiencies, avoidance of non-conformities and non-compliances.
• Support the systems and activities of incoming inspection processes.
• Perform internal audits, supplier audits, and support / facilitate external Regulatory and Customer audits.
• Perform laboratory testing as required as a part of product certification / validation and supplier audits.
• Perform other duties as apparent or assigned.

Major Competencies:

• Proficient in interpretation of engineering drawings (required).
• Proficient measurement ability with hand tools and provided inspection tools (preferred).
• Proficient data entry capabilities and MS Office proficiency (required).
• Strong math skills, including reviewing statistical charts and other paperwork (required).
• Neat, legible handwriting (required).
• Advanced computer skills for the processes and systems used at Pexco Aerospace as related to the Quality function. This includes demonstrating proficiency in spreadsheets, word processing, databases, MRP or similar experience (ERP), as well as customer provided databases and drawing control systems. (required).
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills are required to support the organizational culture. (required).
• Thorough understanding of Quality Departmental functions as they relate to other departments throughout the company (required).
• Personal ability to excel in a fast paced, short workflow environment.

Qualifications:

• Education - Four-year degree is required.
• Training in computers, statistical analysis, process control, auditing techniques, and interpersonal skills are highly preferred. Demonstration of proficiency in the above skills is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience working in a manufacturing role or environment preferred.
• Must be able to work with external suppliers, customers, and internal employees and handle critical feedback with a friendly, even-tempered attitude. Strong facilitation and leadership skills with a focus on teamwork is required.
• ASQ - inspector, auditor, engineer, or manager certification a plus.
• Experience and proficiency in formal problem-solving techniques (8D, 5 why, etc.).
• Willingness and ability to adapt to changing duties for the wide variety of customer requirements encountered and business / organizational structures and methodologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Demonstrably clear and concise verbal and written communication skills with customers, suppliers, and peers.
• Ability to quickly grasp and execute duties with minimal verbal or written instruction, and to initiate appropriate actions when needed - often without direct oversight.
• Training and experience in AS9100 highly preferred.
• Aerospace experience a plus.
• Training and experience in SPC, lean manufacturing, and Kaizen a plus.
• Critical thinking skills are essential to perform this function.

Physical Demands

• May be required to lift objects weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk about the facility - occasionally spending extended periods of time standing, and bending or stooping.
• Occasional (<15%) travel to customers / suppliers.

Work Environment

• Works in both an office / production environment and out on the manufacturing floor.
• Occasionally exposed to dust, odors, fumes, and noise.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran