Quality Engineering Manager II

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Sparks, NV

About The Position

The Quality Engineering Manager II provides technical and managerial leadership across multiple programs or a larger Quality Engineering team. The position owns quality execution strategies, champions process improvements, and regularly interfaces with customer quality representatives, program leadership, and cross-functional partners. The role is within the Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area, which provides command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection, and security solutions to Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial, and international customers. MST supports platform operations, engineering, and full lifecycle management across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The manager leads and develops Quality Engineers; establishes Quality Engineering involvement early in product design; owns product and program quality deliverables; and leads root-cause and corrective-action efforts. The role analyzes quality and supplier data, serves as a primary quality contact for program and customer representatives, partners with engineering, manufacturing, test, and supply chain teams, and plans team strategy and resources across programs. It also champions continuous improvement and coordinates with QMS and Audit teams to align execution with AS9100 and contractual requirements. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance, and U.S. citizenship is required. The role may involve working in an office, production, or hybrid environment and travel up to 20% to support program or supplier needs. SNC offers annual incentive pay based on performance and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) with a 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, three weeks of paid time off, and tuition reimbursement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; relevant experience may substitute for the required education. Without a degree, at least 13 years of related experience is required. A higher-level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
At least 9 years of quality engineering experience, including at least 2 years of leadership; relevant experience may be considered in place of educational qualifications.
Knowledge and utilization of AS9100, ISO 9001, and other applicable standards.
Proficiency in statistical analysis and quality management systems (QMS).
Strong leadership and project management skills.
Demonstrated Quality Engineering experience in electronics manufacturing, such as PCBA, cable/wire harness, or box-level assembly and test.
Hands-on experience with FMEA (design and process), control plans, first article inspection (AS9102 or equivalent), and root cause and corrective action (8D or equivalent).
Experience with nonconformance management and MRB, including disposition decisions and customer or supplier communication.
Experience working directly with Design/Systems Engineering and Manufacturing to influence product quality, such as through design reviews, DFM/DFT input, or requirements and drawing reviews.
Experience mentoring or leading engineers and developing team capability.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods and visual acuity to review technical documents and engineering artifacts.
Ability to occasionally stand and walk on the production floor, lift up to 20 pounds occasionally, and handle components and documentation with manual dexterity.
Ability to travel up to 20% to support program or supplier needs.
Ability to work in an office, production, or hybrid environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the aerospace and defense industry.
Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Six Sigma Black Belt.
Experience leading or influencing design-phase quality activities, such as design reviews, key characteristic or variation management (AS9103), or APQP/PPAP (AS9145).
Familiarity with defense program requirements, including DCMA interface, customer source inspection and acceptance, and contract quality flow-downs.
Experience with electronics workmanship standards, such as IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, or NASA-STD-8739 equivalents.
Experience with test data analysis, yield improvement, and test strategy for electronic assemblies.
Track record of introducing quality practices or tools and changing how a Quality Engineering team operates, with measurable results.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop Quality Engineers, building a proactive, data-driven engineering culture.
Establish Quality Engineering as an early partner in design through design and drawing reviews, DFMEA, design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test input, and identification of key characteristics before production release.
Own product and program quality deliverables, including first article inspection, PFMEA, control plans, acceptance data packages, and build readiness, to meet schedules and customer requirements.
Drive root cause and corrective action for nonconformances, test failures, and customer escapes; lead MRB dispositions and verify corrective actions are effective and sustained.
Analyze yield, defect, test, and supplier performance data using SPC and capability analysis; set and report quality metrics, reduce cost of poor quality, and guide engineering decisions.
Serve as a primary quality point of contact for program leadership and customer or government quality representatives.
Manage product acceptance, deviations and waivers, and customer notifications.
Partner with Manufacturing, Design/Systems Engineering, Test, and Supply Chain to resolve electronics assembly, integration, and test issues.
Support supplier quality engineers on supplier issues that affect program deliverables.
Define the Quality Engineering team's strategic roadmap and resourcing across programs, including skills development, workload balance, and succession planning.
Champion continuous improvement, including lean and Six Sigma projects, error-proofing, and improvements to test and inspection strategies; challenge legacy practices when better approaches exist.
Coordinate with QMS and Audit teams to align product and program execution with AS9100 and contractual flow-down requirements.