Quality Engineer II Composites

Firefly Aerospace•Briggs, TX

21d•Onsite

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company delivering launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles for government and commercial customers. Quality Assurance defines and maintains the processes and tools used to identify, contain, eliminate, and prevent non-conformances, and to verify that products meet requirements reliably and economically. The Quality Engineer develops and maintains processes, equipment, and plans for inspecting and accepting qualification and flight hardware and software. The role supports containment, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and periodic audits to ensure product reliability and economy. The engineer verifies that key performance and design characteristics are met before launch. This position is based at Firefly’s Production and Test facility in Briggs, Texas, north of Cedar Park.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline, such as computer science, mathematics, physics, or chemistry.
At least 3 years of hands-on experience in manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering.
Ability to apply engineering fundamentals, interpret technical information, develop technical instructions, and understand technical drawings, specifications, GD&T, and related quality-control documentation and standards.
Experience with standards or equivalent quality, military, or government standards in the aerospace industry.
Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication.
Flexibility regarding workflow and process.
Excellent organizational skills and willingness to work with a team, share expertise, and follow instructions to accomplish established goals.

Nice To Haves

Experience applying quality assurance principles, methods, and processes, including inspection techniques and quality-control equipment and tools.
Comprehensive understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, materials, and specifications.
Competency in structures/composites, electrical/avionics, and fluids/propulsion disciplines.
Ability to read and understand blueprints, drawings, GD&T, and Model-Based Definitions.
Knowledge of quality tools and methods, including Lean principles, measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, APQP, metrology, PFMEA, control plans, and problem-solving approaches.
Experience applying aerospace quality standards such as AS9100 or ISO 9001.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).

Responsibilities

Collaborate with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to develop quality plans for flight products, including key characteristic identification, development testing, inspection planning, and lessons learned.
Develop and maintain inspection plans and standard work instructions for launch vehicle and spacecraft components and sub-assemblies.
Ensure accurate and efficient product acceptance in alignment with customer and regulatory standards.
Generate records to establish traceability and pedigree for customer-deliverable products.
Lead and support Quality Inspectors in workflow, efficiency, and best practices.
Identify and document non-conformances affecting product reliability and production efficiency.
Collect, track, and analyze production data on first-pass yield and non-conformance issues.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve non-conformance or quality issues and implement corrective actions.
Develop and execute quarantine plans for non-conforming products.
Maintain tool control and calibration processes, including validation of metrology systems.
Perform periodic product and process audits to ensure compliance with the Firefly Quality Management System.
Implement standards, tools, and methods to ensure quality-process effectiveness and sustain improvements.
Execute projects and process improvements to reduce Cost of Poor Quality.
Review designs and procedures to mitigate manufacturability and inspection challenges.
Ensure compliance with external standards and regulations.
Participate in technical operations and provide guidance as a technical engineering resource.
Initiate and execute plans to improve product quality, reliability, and inspection efficiency.
Apply 6S workplace organization and follow Lean initiatives.
Support manufacturing compliance with contractual and mission requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.