Quality Engineer - Aerospace & Defense

Job Description:

The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring products and manufacturing processes consistently meet Machina Labs' quality standards, customer requirements, and the requirements of our AS9100D Quality Management System. This role supports flight-critical aerospace and defense hardware, and works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, and Supply Chain to identify quality issues, implement corrective actions, improve manufacturing processes, and build a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a hands-on role that combines quality engineering, problem solving, process improvement, and collaboration across multiple teams. The ideal candidate is comfortable spending time on the manufacturing floor, enjoys investigating root causes, and understands what it takes to deliver conforming hardware to aerospace primes and government customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain leaders to implement and strengthen processes within the AS9100D Quality Management System, including:
• creating a Supplier Feedback process (via SCAR),
• Engineering Feedback process (via ECM);
• Incoming inspection process
• MRB process
• Support daily manufacturing operations by identifying, investigating, and resolving quality issues.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to improve product quality, manufacturability, and process capability.
• Review customer engineering drawings, specifications, purchase order quality clauses, and manufacturing documentation to ensure requirements are correctly flowed down and met.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality procedures, inspection plans, and work instructions.
• Perform and approve AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, and final product verification.
• Analyze quality data and trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and support the disposition of nonconforming material.
• Support control of special processes (welding, heat treat, chemical processing, NDT), including supplier Nadcap accreditation status and customer process approvals.
• Maintain counterfeit part prevention and foreign object damage (FOD) controls, and support material and process traceability requirements.
• Identify and control key characteristics, and support production process verification for new and recurring work.
• Support internal audits to AS9100D and support customer, prime contractor, registrar, and government source inspection activities.
• Support supplier quality initiatives, including supplier evaluations, corrective actions, and oversight of outsourced special processes and machining.
• Utilize quality tools such as FMEA, SPC, MSA, and 8D problem solving to improve manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain to reduce defects, improve yields, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

Required Background & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related aerospace quality experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering or Manufacturing Quality role, including aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment supporting production operations.
• Strong understanding of quality methodologies including Root Cause Analysis, CAPA, FMEA, SPC, MSA, and AS9102 First Article Inspection.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret GD&T.
• Experience with inspection equipment and measurement techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment.
• Must meet U.S. export control (ITAR) requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working within an AS9100 or ISO 9001 Quality Management System, including internal auditing.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and process development.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or other quality certification.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Experience with ERP and electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS).
• Experience supporting robotics, automation, sheet metal fabrication, welding, machining, or advanced manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting Nadcap special process audits or accredited suppliers.
• Experience with aerospace prime contractor requirements and purchase order quality clause flowdown.
• Familiarity with DFARS, CMMC, or other federal contract compliance requirements.