Quality Engineer II

Rocket Lab•Albuquerque, NM

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team builds spacecraft, payloads, and the components and subsystems that enable space missions. Based at Rocket Lab’s Albuquerque, New Mexico site, the Quality Engineer II promotes a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and innovation across the business. The role works with cross-functional teams to support product and process excellence throughout the product lifecycle while maintaining compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and internal requirements. The Quality Engineer leads quality initiatives, manages the Quality Management System (QMS), and represents the organization in matters related to product quality. The position supports product reviews and development, quality audits and corrective actions, supplier quality, inspection and verification, quality metrics, and training. It also has authority to stop processes that threaten product quality, company reputation, or employee safety. Travel may be required for off-site testing, customer repair trips, or program meetings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 2 years in an Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering-related field.
Experience implementing cross-functional projects in a technical environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience writing and optimizing SQL queries and maintaining data integrity.
Experience automating document creation, assembly, and distribution using Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, or other document automation software.
Experience designing and developing customer data reports using Microsoft Power BI or other business intelligence software.
Familiarity with standard Quality Management System standards and principles.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially when dealing with customers and interdepartmental personnel.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and tools in a real working environment where data drives decision-making.
Strong statistics background.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional technical procedures, drawings, government regulations, and standards.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write procedures.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Experience working with a cross-functional team to identify and solve problems.

Responsibilities

Promote a quality culture focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams on customer design reviews, new product development, in-process product monitoring, contract reviews, and internal specification reviews.
Monitor product performance throughout the product lifecycle and ensure compliance with customer and internal specifications.
Create, monitor, and continually improve QMS procedures, policies, work instructions, manuals, and records to maintain compliance with AS9100 and customer and internal requirements.
Represent the organization in customer service matters involving product quality, including complaints, visits, audits, and inquiries.
Lead quality improvements, root cause analysis, corrective actions, internal audits, and non-conformance reviews.
Participate in technical reviews for Engineering Changes to ensure changes align with customer requirements, internal standards, and manufacturing protocols.
Verify and validate that in-process and completed products meet performance and appearance requirements.
Deploy the QMS within the scope of work to support operational excellence.
Facilitate Material Review Boards, Corrective Action Boards, and Return Material Authorization processes as needed.
Create, monitor, and automate metrics for discrepancy reports, nonconformances, corrective actions, supplier quality, cost of poor quality, KPIs, RMAs, and other quality measures; take action when KPIs do not meet expectations.
Conduct internal and supplier quality audits and identify compliance issues or non-conformities against AS9100 standards.
Manage incoming supplier quality activities, including supplier on-time delivery, defect tracking, and corrective actions for performance issues.
Develop and implement sampling plans, inspection requirements, and procedures for incoming, in-process, and final product quality assurance.
Participate in staff, design, project review, customer, technical review, operational, and audit meetings.
Provide technical support and clarification to Quality and Manufacturing Inspection Technicians on documentation, product quality requirements, and non-conformance identification.
Train and certify Inspectors as needed.
Identify and document non-conformances and participate in root cause and corrective action activities.
Stop processes that threaten product quality, company reputation, or employee safety; initiate corrective action and halt processes when major nonconformances are detected.
Travel as required for off-site testing events, customer repair trips, or program meetings.