Principal Product Quality Engineer

Epirus•Torrance, CA

About The Position

This is an exciting Principal Product Quality Engineer role with an innovative, high-growth defense technology company. The ideal candidate for the position is an agile, collaborative, and hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and can balance technical rigor with agility to support growth initiatives. As an external and internal facing leader, you are a skilled communicator who can translate Epirus' quality expectations to all parties with a hands-on approach to problem solving and process improvement. This role will serve as the technical authority for product quality partnering closely with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management to ensure robust, reliable, and mission-ready products. You will architect and implement scalable quality systems, drive risk-based decision making, and embed quality into the product lifecycle focusing on new product development, design assurance, and reliability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering, or related field
8+ years of experience in quality, manufacturing, or engineering working in aerospace/defense or similar regulated and/or complex hardware environments
Experience leading cross-functional teams to solve highly visibility quality issues, drive continual improvement initiatives, and facilitate the adoption of quality requirements in the product development process
Familiarity with system integration and test for complex applications
Strong proficiency in root cause analysis, failure analysis, reliability testing, and problem-solving methodologies
Strong background in NPI and transitioning products from development to production
Knowledge of quality management system standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, and/or other similar standards
Knowledge of advanced quality mechanisms and principles utilizing an APQP framework (DFMEA, PFMEA, etc)
Experience using data analysis tools to identify trends and establish metrics using SPC and issue/defect management systems.
Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and drive improvements in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to travel up to 25% as needed.
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in engineering or related discipline
Certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Auditor or Six Sigma
Working knowledge of Agile based development processes
Strong understanding of electronics, complex assemblies, system integration and test
Expertise in reliability modeling and statistical analysis
Familiarity with MIL-STD testing standards and environmental qualification
Experience supporting FRACAS and reliability growth programs
Experience with Oracle ERP and QMS software implementation/execution.

Responsibilities

Lead quality planning and execution for NPI programs from concept through production ramp
Establish and deploy advanced quality mechanisms in the product development process to drive production readiness
Drive and support implementation of design reviews, process readiness reviews, and production readiness gates
Ensure effective transfer from engineering to manufacturing with robust control plans
Verify effectiveness of actions and share lessons learned across product and programs
Own and drive Design for Quality (DfQ) principles across engineering teams
Support and implement risk management activities including DFMEA, PFMEA, and hazard analyses
Ensure requirements are traceable to applicable customer, program and industry requirements with robust and effective verification/validation plans
Partner with engineering to define critical-to-quality (CTQ) and/or key characteristics and acceptance criteria
Influence design decisions using data, reliability modeling, and failure analysis
Partner with engineering to develop and execute product reliability strategies and test plans
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for design, integration, and test failures
Establish reliability metrics/targets and track performance over time
Drive failure reporting, analysis, and corrective action systems (FRACAS)
Build scalable and modular processes aligned with AS9100 and customer requirements to support rapid growth initiatives
Develop metrics and dashboards to analyze trends to monitor and improve quality performance.
Serve as the technical interface for customers and regulatory audits related to product quality
Mentor engineers and build a culture of proactive quality ownership
Act as the bridge between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams
Influence without authority in a high-growth, ambiguous environment
Support supplier quality and ensure external partners meet design and reliability standards
Collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to drive system wide quality initiatives to meet quality and reliability objectives