Senior Quality Engineer

First Tek, Inc.

$95K — $115K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of quality engineering experience with a bachelor's degree; or 3 years with an advanced degree.
  • Aerospace or related industry experience preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949) with certified scheme auditor status required or preferred.
  • Proficient in quality tools such as DMAIC, CAPA, PFMEA, and SPC.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings and statistical data analysis expertise required.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage across all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and implementation of quality systems and procedures across multiple value streams.
  • Drive complex problem-solving initiatives using structured methodologies like A3 and DMAIC.
  • Manage and analyze process capability, ensuring compliance with quality standards and continuous improvement.
  • Conduct supplier performance assessments and collaborate on quality improvement plans.
  • Coordinate cross-functional projects to address quality issues, ensuring effective communication among stakeholders.
  • Engage in root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions for quality discrepancies.
  • Facilitate audit activities, ensuring compliance and addressing corrective action plans.

Benefits

  • Promote a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
  • Regular interactions across operations and with external audit teams.
  • Opportunities to engage directly with customers and suppliers to drive quality outcomes.
  • Chance to work on larger scope projects and high-performance teams.
  • Involvement in advanced technical quality tools and methodologies.
Full Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY

The Quality Engineer III is a senior site-level role responsible for assessing and supporting complex quality performance issues across multiple value streams and functional specialties. This position leads the development, deployment, and sustainment of quality systems and procedures, owns Quality Management System (QMS) execution, and serves as a certified scheme auditor. The role leads larger-scope projects and high-performance teams (HPTs), advises site leadership on quality process improvements, and may include supplier quality oversight. Routine interaction spans operations leaders, project teams, Material Review Board (MRB), customers, key suppliers, and third-party audit teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Deep understanding of customer, regulatory and Parker PQP requirements; translates requirements into the most advanced processes within the site or division.

Owns deployment and governance of PQP tools and quality procedures at the site and advanced processes for the Division; evaluates effectiveness and drives corrective actions for gaps within site, across sites or within the Division:
  • Advanced understanding and ability to drive Parker Quality Process (PQP) methodologies and principles through deployment of PQP tools within the site, or multiple sites.
  • Leads the creation or updating of FMEAs, Control Plans, Work Instructions and related documentation under guidance.


Expert Problem Solving and Issue Disposition
  • Lead diversified, cross-value-stream or multi-site problem solving using structured methods (e.g., A3, 8D, DMAIC, 5-Why, Fishbone) for complex quality issues.
  • Facilitate MRB activities; certified to disposition/adjudicate nonconforming material; verify containment and effectiveness of corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
  • Develop and deploy solutions to systemic issues in complex processes, sites or multisite processes; drive root cause elimination and risk reduction across processes/products.


Advanced Technical Quality Tools and Risk Management ownership
  • Own and drive the process capability and control process within the site or multisite: SPC charting, process capability analysis (Cp/Cpk), and data-driven decision-making.
  • Drive and ensure the site meets or exceeds company standards, while continuing to drive for improvements in management of the processes for: measurement system analysis (MSA/gage R&R), PFMEA, control plan development, and change control affecting product/process quality.
  • Manage and deploy qualification/validation activities (e.g., PPAP/FAI) and ensure configuration management aligns with customer/industry requirements.
  • Plan and lead internal audit activities within assigned scope; represent the site during external audits and drives corrective action plans for findings.


Supplier and Customer Engagement
  • Lead supplier/service provider performance assessments and meetings as needed; conduct supplier containment, audits, and corrective actions; collaborate on improvement plans.
  • Maintain regular contact with customers and key suppliers to address significant quality events, expectations, and status of corrective actions; may lead communications on critical issues.
  • Engage directly with third-party audit teams; coordinate rapid responses and systemic closure of all findings. Cascade learnings to other sites within the Division, Group or Company as appropriate.


Collaborate cross-functionally across the location:
  • Participating as a team member or lead on site-level projects; communicating status in all directions within the location or division, creates containment actions for risks.
  • Strong ownership of communication to stakeholders and to enable resource alignment and timely completion of project.
  • Coordinate with primary functions (e.g., Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, or Supply Chain) to resolve issues.


Adhere to compliance and safety standards:
  • Follow Parker policies, procedures, and applicable quality management system requirements.
  • Promote a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.


QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; or 3 years with an advanced degree. Engineering degree preferred. Aerospace industry or similar industry products and legal and regulatory requirements related to field preferred. Demonstrated experience handling complex, multi-value-stream quality issues and leading cross functional initiatives; MRB/issue disposition authority preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong knowledge of QMS principles and standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949 as applicable); certified scheme auditor (e.g., ISO 9001 Lead Auditor) required or strongly preferred.

Proficiency with quality tools and methods: A3/8D/DMAIC, RCA, CAPA, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, MSA (gage R&R), PPAP/FAI, and change control.

Certifications (preferred) Other ASQ certifications (e.g., CQE, CQA, CMQ/OE), Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.

Ability to interpret engineering drawings/specifications; familiarity with GD&T preferred.

Data analysis competency using statistical tools (e.g., Minitab or equivalent) and KPI dashboards; strong attention to detail and documentation rigor.

Excellent communication and influence skills; effective with executive, manager, and shop-floor personnel; confident engaging customers, suppliers, and auditors.

Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision; capable of leading larger scope projects and HPTs.

Thorough knowledge of state-of-the-art inspection and quality inspection and quality engineering/assurance techniques, procedures, instruments, equipment, theories, principles and concepts and general business operations.

Ability to effectively assess and implement continuous improvement techniques to quality and manufacturing functions.

Ability to use standard business applications software and/or specialized data analysis tools.

May require occasional travel to supplier/customer sites or corporate audits as needed.

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