JOB SUMMARY The Product & Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the company's Quality Management System (QMS), Product Assurance, Reliability, and Mission Assurance programs to ensure the successful delivery of safe, reliable, and compliant aerospace and spaceflight products. This role provides independent oversight of design, manufacturing, integration, test, supplier quality, and flight hardware acceptance activities.
The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader with deep aerospace quality experience, capable of building scalable quality systems while partnering closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Program Management. They will champion a culture of quality, continuous improvement, risk management, and mission success across the organization.
Key Responsibilities - Lead and maintain the company's Quality Management System (QMS) and AS9100 certification activities.
- Develop and implement Product Assurance, Mission Assurance, and Reliability programs for spacecraft, flight hardware, and supporting systems.
- Provide quality oversight throughout design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, test, and launch readiness activities.
- Establish and manage nonconformance, corrective action (CAPA), root cause analysis, and Material Review Board (MRB) processes.
- Develop supplier quality requirements, conduct audits, and drive supplier performance improvements.
- Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, contractual, and industry requirements, including aerospace and space standards.
- Lead internal audits, customer audits, and external certification assessments.
- Establish quality metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven decision making.
- Support configuration management, documentation control, and flight certification data package development.
- Build, mentor, and lead Quality, Inspection, and Reliability personnel while fostering a strong quality culture.
Required Skills - Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, and aerospace quality management principles.
- Experience with quality tools and methodologies including CAPA, 8D, FMEA, SPC, and Root Cause Analysis.
- Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing, inspection, test, and configuration management processes.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, procedures, and technical requirements.
Desired Skills - Experience supporting NASA, ESA, DoD, Space Force, commercial space, or other mission-critical aerospace programs.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Lead Auditor, or Six Sigma certification.
- Experience with EEE parts control, environmental qualification testing, and spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T).
- Knowledge of ECSS, NASA Product Assurance, FAA, EASA, IPC, or J-STD requirements.
Education & Work Experience - Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, aviation, or space systems quality, product assurance, or reliability engineering.
- 5+ years of leadership experience managing quality, product assurance, reliability, or mission assurance teams.
- Experience implementing and maintaining AS9100-compliant quality systems.
- Demonstrated experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, satellite, avionics, propulsion, or other high-reliability aerospace products.
- Experience leading root cause investigations, corrective action programs, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Experience managing supplier quality programs and conducting supplier audits.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing, assembly, integration, and environmental testing processes.
- Experience supporting customer audits, qualification programs, and flight hardware acceptance activities.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Compensation: Annual Base Salary Range: $150,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year
Base pay is one part of our total compensation package (base+bonus+equity) and is determined within a range. Your actual base salary will be determined on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Our benefit plans include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k retirement plan, short and long term disability and life insurance. We also offer flexible PTO, along with 11 paid holidays, sick time and paid parental leave.
This is a full-time position in San Jose, California. This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.
