Aerospace Quality Engineer (QE) – Space Flight Hardware

SQA Services•San Diego, CA

1d•$56 - $69•Onsite

About The Position

SQA is seeking an experienced Aerospace Quality Engineer to provide resident quality assurance support for satellite communications hardware used in spaceflight applications. The role supports flight hardware throughout fabrication, assembly, inspection, testing, and shipment, ensuring compliance with applicable quality requirements, workmanship standards, approved procedures, and project documentation. The position requires on-site work in San Diego, California, and collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, test teams, government quality representatives, the Contracting Officer's Representative, and the Task Requester. The successful candidate will independently identify potential quality issues, assess discrepancies and hardware anomalies, review quality and manufacturing documentation, and recommend or coordinate resolutions. Candidates must have current or prior NASA workmanship certifications in applicable standards, including NASA-STD-8739.1, NASA-STD-8739.4, and applicable J-STD workmanship or soldering standards, unless they have directly relevant subject-matter expertise in RF products or processes. The position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles, and candidates must be ITAR compliant.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience as an Aerospace Quality Engineer supporting satellite systems, spacecraft, or other spaceflight hardware.
Experience providing quality assurance oversight for fabrication, assembly, inspection, and testing of flight hardware.
Current or previous NASA workmanship certifications in applicable standards, including NASA-STD-8739.1, NASA-STD-8739.4, and applicable J-STD workmanship or soldering standards, unless qualifying for the RF subject-matter expert exception.
Strong knowledge of aerospace quality assurance processes, nonconformance reporting, corrective actions, and MRB activities.
Ability to review and assess work orders, procedures, test plans, inspection records, nonconformance reports, and shipping documentation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing formal quality assessments and communicating findings to project stakeholders.
Ability to work on-site in San Diego, California, and provide resident support as required.
Candidates using the certification exception must demonstrate RF product or process expertise directly relevant to the hardware or processes being supported.
Must be ITAR compliant; the position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience supporting NASA satellite programs or other government spaceflight missions.
Experience with satellite communications hardware, including RF systems, Ka-Band, S-Band, or related technologies.
Familiarity with Government Mandatory Inspection Points, NASA quality surveillance, contractor audits, and government acceptance processes.
Experience reviewing aerospace manufacturing documentation, work orders, inspection records, test procedures, and nonconformance dispositions.
Experience with electrostatic discharge controls and handling sensitive electronic flight hardware.
Ability to work independently in a resident quality assurance role while collaborating effectively with engineering, manufacturing, and program personnel.

Responsibilities

Provide quality assurance oversight for satellite communications flight hardware during fabrication, assembly, inspection, and testing.
Evaluate quality issues, testing discrepancies, and hardware anomalies, and provide timely assessments and recommendations to the project team.
Monitor critical and special processes identified by the task requester.
Verify compliance with quality requirements, workmanship standards, approved procedures, and project documentation.
Proactively identify workmanship concerns, documentation gaps, procedural deficiencies, and potential nonconformances.
Participate in technical discussions, issue resolution, and anomaly investigations.
Prepare written quality assessments supporting discrepancy reports, NCRs, MRB actions, and audit findings.
Review nonconformances generated during fabrication, assembly, and testing; assess proposed dispositions and recommend whether they are adequate.
Participate in contractor MRB activities when requested and when NASA is a participant.
Support internal project reviews with quality-related information, findings, and presentation materials.
Participate in Technical Interchange Meetings, pre-environmental test reviews, and pre-shipment reviews as required.
Review manufacturing and test procedures and plans for completeness and readiness before implementation.
Support NASA quality assurance surveys, surveillance audits, and in-process inspections.
Participate in contractor quality audits and surveys as directed.
Monitor and coordinate Government Mandatory Inspection Point inspections as requested.
Provide quality oversight for flight-hardware lifting and handling operations in accordance with approved procedures.
Perform pre-shipment reviews and inspections to verify hardware readiness for acceptance and delivery.
Review work orders, procedures, inspection records, test documentation, and quality records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Verify shipping documentation is complete before shipment.
Review packaging and preparation activities to ensure flight hardware is protected and handled according to applicable requirements.
Identify missing, inconsistent, or inadequate documentation and coordinate resolution with responsible teams.
Communicate task status, progress, open issues, and quality concerns through regular correspondence and meetings with the COR and Task Requester.
Provide timely updates on inspection status, nonconformances, corrective actions, and hardware readiness.
Perform additional quality assurance support activities as assigned.