Quality Engineer (AS9100 Aerospace)

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management System

• Maintain compliance with AS9100 Quality Management System requirements.
• Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality procedures, work instructions, and process controls.

Manufacturing Quality Support

• Review manufacturing processes for compliance with engineering, customer, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans, control plans, and quality standards.
• Support First Article Inspections (FAI) in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Evaluate nonconforming material and participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
• Monitor process performance and identify opportunities for defect reduction and process improvement.

Corrective and Preventive Actions

• Lead investigations of nonconformances, customer complaints, and internal quality issues.
• Utilize root cause analysis methodologies including:
• 8D
• 5 Why
• Fishbone (Ishikawa)
• FMEA
• Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Track effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure timely closure.

Supplier Quality

• Support supplier qualification and performance monitoring activities.
• Review supplier corrective actions and verify effectiveness.
• Participate in supplier audits and source inspections as required.
• Analyze supplier quality data and drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers.

Product and Process Validation

• Support Process Validation and Process Capability studies.
• Conduct Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gage R&R studies.
• Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC) techniques to monitor manufacturing performance.
• Ensure validation documentation meets customer and regulatory requirements.

Customer Support

• Act as quality representative during customer visits and audits.
• Review customer quality requirements and ensure deployment throughout the organization.
• Support customer investigations and corrective action responses.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma quality improvement projects.
• Analyze quality metrics and identify trends.
• Drive initiatives that improve product quality, delivery performance, and operational efficiency

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in quality, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.

Experience

• 3-7 years of quality engineering experience in an aerospace, aviation, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within an AS9100-certified organization.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Experience conducting root cause investigations and corrective actions.

Technical Skills

• Working knowledge of:
• AS9100
• AS9102
• ISO 9001
• FAA regulations (as applicable)
• Customer aerospace quality requirements
• Proficient with quality tools including:
• FMEA
• SPC
• MSA
• Control Plans
• Process Capability Studies
• APQP/PPAP concepts
• Ability to interpret:
• Engineering drawings
• GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing)
• Specifications and technical standards
• Experience with ERP and electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS).
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Excel data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Aerospace manufacturing experience involving machining, assembly, welding, brazing, and special processes
• Internal Auditor certification
• Ability to apply AI-based tools and technologies, where appropriate, to support quality management activities, data analysis, problem-solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.

---

Competencies

• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Risk-based decision making
• Effective communication and presentation skills
• Project management capability
• Team collaboration and leadership
• Customer-focused mindset
• Continuous improvement orientation

---

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Internal and external defect rates
• Corrective action closure effectiveness
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Customer complaint reduction
• Audit findings and closure performance
• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• Supplier quality performance
• On-time completion of quality initiatives

---

Working Conditions

• Combination of offices, laboratory, and manufacturing floor environments.
• Frequent interaction with production personnel, suppliers, customers, and auditors.
• Occasional travel for supplier audits, customer visits, and training.