Job Title: Specialist, Quality Engineer

Job Code: 13242

Job Location: Herndon, VA

The Quality Engineer (QE) is a vital member of the program team, responsible for ensuring the integrity and compliance of hardware and software products throughout their lifecycle. The QE interfaces with various departments, including Program Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Test personnel, to establish and implement effective process controls aimed at risk mitigation and project success.

Job Description:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support process control implementation and risk mitigation.
• Proactively monitor, analyze, report, and participate in the improvement of process and product performance.
• Lead failure analysis and corrective action review boards and facilitate RCCA and improvement projects using Lean and Six Sigma tools and other problem-solving methods to drive solutions.
• Review and verify contractual/customer requirements and translate them into operational plans and test procedures.
• Participate in the verification, validation, and acceptance of product design and process changes.
• Represent the organization when interfacing directly with customers throughout program lifecycle.
• Assist in preparing for and leading internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Participate in the verification, validation, and acceptance of product design and process changes.
• Represent the organization in customer interactions throughout the program lifecycle.
• Ensure timely completion of QA deliverables, maintaining zero product quality escapes.
• Drive continuous improvements by developing processes that reduce defects and customer escapes.
• Analyze data from nonconformities, discrepancies, and audits to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Define and implement processes for oversight of program activities, ensuring compliance and defect-free products.
• Support and verify control of source code, configuration management, and change management.

Essential Functions:

• Manage QA activities for projects to ensure compliance with customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements, as well as conformance to ISO9001, AS9100, and associated industry standards.
• Ensure timely completion of QA deliverables to prevent product quality escapes.
• Utilize data analytics to identify trends and convey quality performance information to stakeholders.
• Provide technical problem-solving for issues arising in projects and programs, offering clear feedback related to contractual/regulatory exposure and innovative solutions.
• Interface with customers for all quality-related matters within the scope of responsibility.
• Perform site installation verifications and audits for multiple FAA sites.
• Oversee product acceptance criteria, nonconforming materials disposition, and measurement system evaluations.
• Design, develop, and implement QA standards, methods, and procedures for evaluating hardware, software, and service products.
• Verify process compliance and perform internal audits to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, and customer requirements.
• Analyze data from nonconformities, discrepancies, and audits to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead corrective action review boards and facilitate RCCA, utilizing Lean tools and Six Sigma principles.
• Serve as the primary interface to customers and suppliers for quality-related matters.
• Review code to ensure end items meet customer requirements and are fully tested.
• Conduct PFMEAs to assess risks and standardize processes, reducing defect opportunities.
• Participate in configuration review control boards and Risk Review Boards to support program objectives.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field and minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. Graduate degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior Quality Engineering experience.
• Experience in Quality Assurance within the aerospace, defense, FAA or similar industry.
• Familiarity with ISO9001, AS9100, and associated industry standards.
• Experience in data analytics and problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience communicating wih customers and cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of software and hardware development lifecycles.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement tools.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Excellent communication, technical writing and presentation skills.
• Educational background or experience with programming languages C, C++, C#, JAVA, Python or other object-oriented design concepts.
• Knowledge of program lifecycles.
• Understanding of software configuration and change management practices.
• Experience in Budget Management.
• Proficiency in all MS Office Applications.
• Ability to work effectively on a team yet maintain professional Quality independence.
• Generate Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and verify applicable Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) for Software and Hardware Quality Assurance.
• Develop and implement audit plans to assure compliance to internal requirements and external standards per program requirements (CMMI Level 3, DO-178, DO-278, ED-109, AS9100, ISO 9001, AS9115, DO254, etc.).
• Review code (deliverable and test) to ensure end item meets customer requirements and is tested completely (pass and fail cases).