Lead Quality Engineer - Aerospace & Defense Industry!

C/A Design Inc. • Exeter, NH

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This role serves as the site owner for the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring continued compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards. The Lead Quality Engineer will assist the Quality Director in developing, implementing, and maintaining quality policies and procedures. This position involves coordinating document control, management review inputs, and quality performance reporting. The successful candidate will monitor QMS effectiveness, identify improvement opportunities, and foster collaboration across departments to resolve complex quality issues and ensure timely support for production and customer needs. This role also involves leading root cause investigations, facilitating CAPA activities, and ensuring compliance with customer and aerospace regulatory requirements. The Lead Quality Engineer will support customer audits, special process compliance, and provide technical support to other Quality Engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5-7 years of progressive Quality Engineering experience in aerospace, aviation, or defense manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience supporting AS9100-certified manufacturing environments.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft products.

Nice To Haves

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• ASQ Certified Auditor (CQA)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• AS9100 Internal Auditor
• Experience working within NADCAP-accredited special process environments strongly preferred.
• Experience serving as a technical leader or mentor without direct supervisory responsibility preferred.
• Proficient with inspection methods, tools, and instruments (Optical Comparator, digital height gages, CMM, calipers, etc.), preferred.
• Experienced interpreting GD&T requirements of complex machined components, preferred.
• Familiarity with Nadcap accreditation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site owner for the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring continued compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Assist the Quality Director in the development, implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of quality policies, procedures, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Coordinate document control activities related to Quality procedures and system documentation.
• Coordinate management review inputs, quality objectives, and quality performance reporting.
• Monitor QMS effectiveness using performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve quality processes across the organization.
• Act as the Quality Director's delegate for day-to-day quality decisions and cross-functional coordination at the site.
• Coordinate quality priorities across multiple quality functions to ensure timely support of production and customer requirements.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations leadership to resolve complex quality issues.
• Foster collaboration between Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Support workload balancing across the quality team based on business priorities.
• Lead complex root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, RCCA, 5 Why, Fishbone, etc.).
• Facilitate cross-functional Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) activities and verify effectiveness.
• Identify systemic quality risks and implement preventive improvements.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, contract requirements, and aerospace regulatory requirements.
• Support customer audits and interface directly with customer quality representatives.
• Support Special Process (Dip Brazing, Vacuum Brazing, Heat Treat, and Chemical Processing) compliance.
• Provide technical support to other Quality Engineers as needed, including: Corrective actions, first article inspections (AS9102), supplier quality, contract review, customer returns /escapes, MRB activities, process validations, risk assessments, production support, inspection process improvements.
• Participate in new product introduction and process validation activities.
• Support production readiness activities, process validation, and risk assessments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Additional 40 hours of Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Competitive 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions
• Education reimbursement program for professional development
• Climate-controlled facility
• Subsidized vending and on-site break areas
• Complimentary coffee and refreshments
• Clean, modern work environment with advanced equipment and technology
• Opportunities for career growth within a stable, growing aerospace manufacturing organization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior