Procurement Quality Assurance Engineer III

JPL/NASA•Pasadena, CA

1d•$120,328 - $143,416•Onsite

About The Position

The Procurement Quality Assurance Engineer III will work in JPL’s Procurement Quality Assurance Group (1123), within the Quality Assurance Office, and report to the Group Supervisor. The Quality Assurance Office independently verifies that critical requirements are implemented correctly during fabrication, integration, testing, and launch so that hardware and software products can operate in the extreme conditions of space. The role performs supplier assessments and audits for spaceflight hardware, reviews technical requirements and supplier corrective actions, and carries out supplier quality activities such as hardware inspection, documentation review, test witnessing, and non-conformance investigation. The engineer works with JPL flight projects to apply procurement quality assurance methods, identify and mitigate supplier risks, and support subcontract reviews. The position also leads the Counterfeit Avoidance Working Group and coordinates roll-out of program updates across JPL, while leading or supporting procurement quality improvement initiatives. Travel may be expected up to 25%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline and typically at least 6 years of related experience; alternatively, a master’s degree in a similar discipline and at least 4 years of related experience, or a PhD in a similar discipline and at least 2 years of related experience.
Demonstrated experience performing Supplier Quality Assurance in the aerospace industry or another comparable, highly regulated industry.
Experience in one or more of Quality Engineering, Configuration Management, Supplier Management, Supplier Quality Engineering, Supply Chain, inspection techniques (non-destructive, electronics, or mechanical), or manufacturing processes.
Extensive auditing experience and experience performing auditor training.
Extensive aerospace hardware quality inspection experience.
Advanced knowledge of applicable industry standards for the design, engineering, fabrication, integration, testing, and launch of spaceflight hardware and supply chains.
Demonstrated proficiency in mechanical hardware assurance methods, including inspection, test, and analysis.
Experience developing and maintaining Quality Assurance processes, plans, and procedures.
Understanding of risks and risk management approaches.
Ability to write reports, analyze situations, and recommend solutions.
Effective written and verbal communication, presentation, and computer skills.
Effective interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to lead cohesive teams and interact with all organizational levels in a diverse technical environment.

Nice To Haves

AS9100D lead auditor certification is desired.
Understanding of electronic, electrical, electromechanical, optical, and/or mechanical manufacturing processes and associated inspection methods.
Understanding of process variation, statistical process control, and Deming’s approach to systems.
Experience as a quality assurance engineer, manufacturing engineer, process engineer, supplier quality engineer, or supply chain engineer.
Previous experience as a Hardware Quality Engineer is highly desirable.
Experience developing and implementing supply chain improvement efforts.
Experience developing supplier quality or supply chain metrics and identifying key performance indicators.
Experience serving as an onsite QA resident or providing long-term support at a supplier.

Responsibilities

Perform onsite quality, manufacturing, process, and electrostatic discharge assessments at JPL suppliers of spaceflight hardware.
Review drawings, technical standards, and specifications, and audit suppliers for compliance; document gaps clearly and concisely and review proposed corrective actions.
Lead a team of engineers, subject matter experts, and quality personnel, specifically the Counterfeit Avoidance Working Group.
Lead the roll-out of Counterfeit program updates across JPL, including communications and coordination with key areas of the lab.
Prepare with the audit team, interface with suppliers, facilitate onsite audits, and gather post-audit reports for upload to the JPL Approved Supplier List website.
Conduct supplier hardware inspections, documentation reviews, test witnessing, non-conformance investigations, and other flight-hardware quality activities.
Work with JPL flight projects to apply procurement quality assurance methods and techniques to suppliers and support supplier-risk identification and mitigation.
Represent Procurement Quality Assurance in flight-project subcontract reviews to identify and mitigate risk.
Serve as a supplier quality engineering subject matter expert in supplier quality performance troubleshooting, investigations, and performance improvement efforts.
Lead or support procurement quality assurance improvement initiatives.
Apply mechanical and electronic hardware assurance methods, including inspection, test, and analysis.
Develop and maintain Quality Assurance processes, plans, and procedures.