Quality Engineer - Aerospace

Position Overview

The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving quality systems, manufacturing processes, product quality, and continuous improvement initiatives within a highly regulated aerospace manufacturing environment.

This position will serve as a key point of contact for quality-related issues involving internal manufacturing teams, customers, suppliers, and third-party auditors. Responsibilities include quality planning, nonconformance investigation, corrective action, internal and supplier auditing, customer quality support, calibration, statistical analysis, and maintaining compliance with aerospace quality standards.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in aerospace manufacturing quality, with experience working directly with customers and suppliers. Experience with forging, metallurgy, AS9100, NADCAP, GD&T, and advanced quality tools is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System.
• Serve as a primary quality contact for internal departments, customers, suppliers, and third-party auditors.
• Investigate product and process nonconformances and develop effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions using tools such as 5 Why, 8D, FMEA, and other structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Monitor corrective actions to verify implementation and long-term effectiveness.
• Develop and revise quality procedures, inspection standards, testing methods, and quality documentation.
• Conduct internal quality audits and support external customer and regulatory audits.
• Support continued compliance with AS9100 and NADCAP requirements.
• Lead and support quality-system improvements related to aerospace manufacturing requirements.
• Review customer purchase orders, contracts, specifications, and quality requirements to ensure proper flow-down throughout the organization.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Metallurgy, Inspection, Planning, and other departments to ensure product conformity.
• Support metallurgy activities including specification reviews, quality planning, and related technical requirements.
• Develop sampling procedures and methods for recording, evaluating, and reporting quality and reliability data.
• Manage and monitor supplier quality performance.
• Conduct supplier audits and work with suppliers to resolve quality and performance issues.
• Investigate customer complaints and provide documented findings, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Develop methods for disposition of nonconforming or discrepant material.
• Evaluate quality issues to determine root cause, cost impact, and appropriate corrective actions.
• Participate in the development and review of manufacturing planning documents to ensure appropriate quality controls are incorporated.
• Develop and maintain quality plans to support efficient production of conforming products.
• Support inspection and testing personnel responsible for evaluating material, product, and process quality.
• Apply statistical analysis and SPC tools to monitor manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze quality data using histograms, Pareto charts, process capability data, trends, and other statistical methods.
• Manage calibration activities and maintain an understanding of metrology requirements for measurement and testing equipment.
• Develop quality-related training materials and conduct training for employees as required.
• Provide recommendations to management regarding quality, process, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior Quality Engineers and other quality personnel.
• Provide support to Quality Management and assist with quality leadership responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of manufacturing Quality Engineering experience within an aerospace environment preferred for this level.
• Strong experience working directly with customers and suppliers on quality-related matters.
• Experience with AS9100 and NADCAP quality systems.
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing quality requirements.
• Experience conducting internal, supplier, and/or customer quality audits.
• Experience with nonconformance investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Working knowledge of FMEA, 5 Why, 8D, SPC, and other quality improvement methodologies.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and manufacturing documentation.
• Knowledge of GD&T.
• Strong understanding of calibration and metrology principles.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing and quality data.
• Ability to apply statistical methods to support process and product improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, auditors, engineers, manufacturing personnel, and senior management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the forging industry.
• Experience working with forged aerospace components and specialty metals.
• Experience with metallurgy and metallurgical manufacturing processes.
• AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical analysis and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience with CMM inspection equipment and dimensional inspection systems.
• Experience with PC-DMIS.
• Experience with portable measurement systems such as a Romer Arm.
• Experience supporting NADCAP special processes.
• Supplier Quality Engineering experience.
• Experience with aerospace customer audits and quality requirements.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.