General program information and/or position overview. The Sr. SQE will support multiple programs, projects, product lines, and suppliers across the Defense/Land/Aerospace portfolio. This role requires the ability to balance competing priorities while ensuring supplier quality performance, compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement across development, production, and sustainment efforts.
Primary Responsibilities. - Lead supplier quality activities across multiple concurrent programs and projects, ensuring compliance with program requirements, schedules, contractual obligations, and customer expectations.
- Prioritize and coordinate supplier quality initiatives across a diverse portfolio supporting both development and production environments.
- Provide cross-program visibility into supplier performance, quality risks, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives to program leadership and key stakeholders.
- Apply lessons learned, supplier performance data, and industry best practices across programs to improve supplier quality and prevent recurring issues.
- Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills while serving as a liaison between suppliers, customers, government representatives, and internal stakeholders.
- Interface directly with suppliers and perform supplier quality engineering functions supporting aerospace and defense manufacturing operations.
- Collaborate closely with Procurement, Program Managers, Supplier Program Managers, Program Quality Engineers, Business Area Quality Managers, and Receiving Inspection personnel to resolve supplier quality issues.
- Conduct on-site supplier audits, assessments, capability evaluations, and readiness reviews.
- Perform detailed investigations and root cause analyses of supplier quality issues, identify risks, facilitate containment actions, and drive effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Develop and maintain supplier performance metrics, including nonconforming material trends, defect rates, supplier corrective action responsiveness, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Participate in supplier selection, qualification, and ongoing oversight activities to ensure appropriate quality requirements, Qnote clauses, Statements of Work (SOW), and contractual obligations are effectively flowed down and implemented.
- Review supplier manufacturing processes and collaborate with suppliers to improve process capability, efficiency, quality performance, and value creation.
- Coordinate with Supply Chain and Program teams to monitor and communicate supplier quality performance through detailed reporting and data-driven analysis.
- Review supplier inspection and test documentation, including First Article Inspections (FAIs), source inspection records, material certifications, and test reports.
- Monitor industry and supply chain developments that may impact product quality, availability, or supplier performance and communicate potential impacts to stakeholders.
- Partner with other Supplier Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams to develop organizational knowledge, standardize processes, and share best practices across programs.
- Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to evaluate supplier process capabilities and identify opportunities to strengthen and diversify the supply base.
- Support Supplier Quality Analysts in supplier qualification activities, GIDEP evaluations, and other technical assessments.
- Perform additional quality assurance and supplier quality responsibilities as assigned by management.
Basic Qualifications. - Bachelor's degree with 8-12 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment, including at least 5 years of Supplier Quality Engineering experience within an AS9100-certified or similarly rigorous Quality Management System (QMS)
OR High School Diploma/GED with a minimum of 15 years of manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years in Supplier Quality and/or Quality Engineering within an AS9100 environment or equivalent experience supporting DoD, aerospace, automotive, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
- Demonstrated experience supporting multiple projects, programs, or product lines simultaneously within a complex aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or government-contracting environment.
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities, balance program demands and effectively communicate with stakeholders across multiple organizations and program teams.
- Experience conducting supplier audits, assessments, capability evaluations, and readiness reviews aligned with contractual and program requirements.
- Ability to work effectively with Program Managers, Quality Engineers, Design Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and suppliers to ensure quality requirements are clearly understood and implemented.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in team environments.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, CAD models, specifications, contractual quality requirements, and AS9102 First Article Inspection documentation.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office applications, and technical report writing.
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%.
Preferred Qualifications.
- Experience supporting supplier quality initiatives across multiple defense, aerospace, or government programs with diverse technical, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
- Experience developing and implementing standardized supplier quality processes, metrics, dashboards, and reporting systems across multiple programs and business areas.
- Working knowledge of industry standards and workmanship requirements, including J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620, with experience ensuring supplier compliance and supporting receiving inspection activities
- Experience with one or more special processes, including welding, painting, chemical conversion coating (Chem Film), anodizing, heat treating, counterfeit material prevention, or other NADCAP-related processes, with the ability to assess and audit suppliers against applicable requirements.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP), AS9100 Lead Auditor, or equivalent quality certifications.
- Experience with GIDEP, DCMA interactions, source inspection activities, and government quality assurance requirements.
- Experience utilizing quality management and ERP systems to analyze supplier performance, drive corrective actions, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Original Posting:September 10, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
