Quality Engineer

Accurate Energetic Systems Llc•McEwen, TN

10h

About The Position

The Quality Engineer is a hands-on technical leader responsible for the engineering side of the quality management system, supporting the manufacture of energetic products and explosives for U.S. defense and commercial customers. The role applies military specifications and standards, customer drawings, and contract quality requirements to plan, verify, and improve product quality from incoming material through final acceptance. It leads root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and Material Review Board activities, and serves as a technical voice for Quality with production, engineering, customers, and government representatives. The Quality Engineer promotes a proactive approach and helps build a culture in which quality is owned by everyone on the production floor. The role provides technical direction, training, and mentoring to quality inspectors, lab technicians, and production personnel. It may provide direct or functional supervision of inspectors and technicians, represents Quality in program reviews, new product introductions, and production planning meetings, and serves as backup to the Quality Manager as needed. Quality engineering work includes reviewing drawings, specifications, and technical data packages; defining inspection methods, gaging, and fixtures; supporting nondestructive testing and laboratory methods; developing process FMEAs and control plans; supporting process qualification, validation, and engineering change control; and ensuring product identification, lot traceability, and documentation meet requirements. Quality assurance work includes maintaining and improving the Quality Management System, reviewing contract and purchase-order quality requirements, coordinating with DCMA and customer representatives, monitoring supplier quality, supporting calibration, and conducting internal audits.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field, from a four-year college or university; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of quality engineering experience in a defense, aerospace, or munitions manufacturing environment.
Ability to read and understand documents.
Strong math and computer skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and confidence working directly with customers, suppliers, and government representatives.
Good organizational skills and time-management practices.
Ability to manage multiple projects or programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in energetics, ordnance, or explosives manufacturing is preferred.
Training or certifications in industrial NDT methods, such as X-Radiography, are preferred.
General knowledge of lean manufacturing and program/project management is preferred.

Responsibilities

Interpret contract, drawing, and specification requirements, including MIL-STD, MIL-DTL, MIL-PRF, and customer technical data packages, and translate them into inspection plans, test procedures, and acceptance criteria.
Develop and maintain inspection and test plans, control plans, and sampling plans for incoming, in-process, and final inspection.
Lead the Corrective Action / Preventive Action system, including root cause analysis and verification of corrective-action effectiveness.
Lead the Material Review Board and nonconforming-material process, including dispositions, Requests for Deviation/Waiver, and customer notification.
Plan and perform First Article Inspections and lot acceptance testing, and prepare acceptance documentation and product certifications.
Apply statistical methods, including SPC, process capability, and measurement system analysis, to monitor processes and reduce defects.
Support internal, customer, and DCMA audits to ISO 9001 and, where applicable, AS9100 requirements.
Prepare quality reports and metrics for management review.
Work with production to meet delivery deadlines without compromising product quality or safety.
Set an example for disciplined work practices, procedure compliance, and attention to detail on the production floor.
Provide technical direction, training, and mentoring to quality inspectors, lab technicians, and production personnel on inspection methods, work instructions, and quality requirements.
May provide direct or functional supervision of quality inspectors and technicians; represent Quality in program reviews, new product introductions, and production planning meetings; serve as backup to the Quality Manager as needed.
Review new and revised drawings, specifications, and technical data packages to identify critical characteristics, inspection requirements, and producibility concerns.
Define inspection methods, gaging, and fixtures, and support nondestructive testing and laboratory test methods for energetic materials and products.
Develop process FMEAs and control plans for new and changed processes, including energetic loading, assembly, and pack operations.
Support process qualification and validation, engineering change control, and Engineering Change Proposals.
Ensure product identification, lot traceability, and lot documentation comply with contract and specification requirements.
Maintain and improve the Quality Management System to meet ISO 9001 requirements and support alignment with AS9100 where required by customers.
Review quality requirements in purchase orders, contracts, and flow-downs, including FAR/DFARS clauses, and ensure they are met.
Work with DCMA and customer quality representatives on contracts requiring government source inspection, oversight, and acceptance.
Evaluate and monitor supplier quality, perform source inspection when required, issue and follow up on Supplier Corrective Action Requests, and support counterfeit-material prevention.
Support the metrology and calibration program to ensure gages and inspection equipment are calibrated and controlled.
Plan and conduct internal quality audits and track findings through closure.