Quality Engineering Manager II

Sierra Nevada Corporation • Sparks, NV

3d

About The Position

The Quality Engineering Manager II provides technical and managerial leadership across multiple programs or a larger Quality Engineering team. The role owns quality execution strategies, champions process improvements, and regularly interfaces with customer quality representatives, program leadership, and cross-functional partners.

The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turnkey command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection, and security solutions worldwide. The MST team supports Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial, and international customers, with experience in platform operations, engineering, and full lifecycle management across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required because the position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. The role may involve work in an office, production, or hybrid environment and travel up to 20% to support program or supplier needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; relevant experience may substitute for the required education. In the absence of 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 experience.
• 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 core Quality Engineering methods: design and process FMEA, 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 review.
• 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; visual acuity to review technical documents and engineering artifacts; occasional standing and walking on a production floor; ability to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally; and manual dexterity for handling components and documentation.
• Ability to travel up to 20% to support program or supplier needs.

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 and 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 new quality practices or tools and changing how a Quality Engineering team operates, with measurable results.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Quality Engineers, building a proactive, data-driven engineering culture that goes beyond reactive execution support.
• Establish Quality Engineering as an early partner in the design process through design and drawing reviews, DFMEA, design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test input, and key characteristic identification before release to production.
• Own product and program quality deliverables, including first article inspection, PFMEA, control plans, acceptance data packages, and build readiness, to meet program 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 test and inspection strategy improvements; challenge legacy practices where better approaches exist.
• Coordinate with QMS and Audit teams to keep product and program execution aligned with AS9100 and contractual flow-down requirements.

Benefits

• Annual incentive pay based upon performance, commensurate with the level of the position.
• Medical insurance plans.
• Dental insurance plans.
• Vision insurance plans.
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%.
• Life insurance.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager