Materials Science Quality Engineer II/III

Textron•Wilmington, MA

96d

About The Position

The Quality Engineer supports aerospace and defense programs by applying Quality Engineering principles, materials expertise, and disciplined systems thinking within an AS9100-regulated environment. The role contributes to mission-critical product development and production readiness through quality planning, risk mitigation, root cause and corrective action, data-driven decision making, and compliance with customer, regulatory, and contract requirements. Assignments involve moderately complex defense and aerospace hardware requiring independent execution and cross-functional coordination. The role works with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, configuration management, suppliers, and customer Quality Assurance representatives. It develops and maintains contractually required quality plans and records, supports production and inspection processes, participates in design and program reviews, and contributes to proposal and project quality estimates. The position may be filled at QE II or QE III level, with the corresponding experience requirements stated in the posting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science Engineering or a related materials-focused engineering discipline.
For QE II: 2–5 years of experience in Quality Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field in an AS9100 or ISO 9001 aerospace/defense manufacturing environment.
For QE III: 5–9 years of experience in Quality Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field in an AS9100 or ISO 9001 aerospace/defense manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
Working knowledge of statistical methods, including SPC, capability analysis, and sampling plans.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for working with customers, suppliers, auditors, and cross-functional teams.
Ability to interpret aerospace drawings, material specifications, schematics, processes, and inspection requirements.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills aligned with structured aerospace quality methodologies.
Ability to organize and prioritize tasks across multiple programs in a schedule-driven environment.
Ability to work independently and in integrated product teams.
Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, materials behavior, and inspection and test techniques.
Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP special-process concepts, and quality tools such as RCCA, PFMEA, and control plans.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Minitab or an equivalent tool.
Experience with Oracle ERP or other aerospace ERP/MRP systems.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience with MRB, FAI, or aerospace/defense customer interactions, including DCMA or prime contractors.

Responsibilities

Review customer contracts and technical data packages for simple to moderately complex aerospace and defense programs; analyze and document requirements using compliance matrices.
Develop Quality Plans, QA Directives, Inspection Plans, and other required quality artifacts aligned with AS9100 and customer requirements.
Collaborate with Supplier Quality Engineering on supplier escapes, source inspection, and requirements flow-down to suppliers.
Communicate directly with customer Quality Assurance representatives, including DCMA, prime contractors, or government quality contacts, as applicable.
Define inspection and test requirements using industry-standard tools, techniques, and acceptance criteria for aerospace hardware.
Participate in engineering design reviews focused on Design for Manufacturability, Design for Inspection, Design for Reliability, and overall DFX compliance.
Support or lead root cause investigations using methods such as 5-Why, fishbone, 8D, and DMAIC to address nonconformances, flight hardware deviations, or field returns.
Perform Material Review Board activities, including nonconformance evaluation, authorized disposition, and defect trend analysis.
Contribute to Program Management reviews, risk assessments, and Earned Value Management tasks related to project quality.
Support Contract Data Requirements List development, verification, and timely delivery of quality-related deliverables such as QAPs, FAI reports, control plans, and audit results.
Assist in defining and improving fabrication and special processes, including heat treat, coatings, and bonding, and build standards for aerospace materials and assemblies.
Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and configuration management to ensure compliance with AS9100, customer specifications, and internal procedures.
Provide status updates to the Cost Account Manager and potentially perform CAM duties for small or mid-level work packages.
Support cost and effort estimating for quality tasks on proposals or follow-on programs.