Senior Engineer QA

Arete Associates•Niwot, CO

7d•$120,000 - $132,000•Onsite

About The Position

Areté is hiring a full-time, exempt, non-supervisory Senior Quality Engineer for its facility in Niwot, Colorado. The role supports program- and site-level Quality Assurance for advanced laser and electro-optical systems in a regulated defense or aerospace environment. The QA department focuses on process controls, metrics, test witnessing, inspection, and verification. The Senior Quality Engineer leads root cause investigations and owns the nonconformance lifecycle from detection through verified closure. The role works with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management to develop and implement corrective actions, improve design and manufacturing processes, maintain the Quality Management System, and support AS9100 compliance. It also includes supplier quality initiatives, technical document review, test witnessing, and reporting quality status and improvement efforts to program leadership. The role requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related discipline; at least seven years of quality engineering experience in defense, aerospace, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment; U.S. citizenship; and the ability to acquire a secret security clearance. Compensation is listed at $120,000 to $132,000 per year, with the final offer dependent on factors including experience, education, and skills.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related discipline.
At least 7 years of quality engineering experience in defense, aerospace, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Proven ability to lead root cause investigations and drive complex nonconformances to timely, effective closure.
Experience developing and implementing corrective actions that result in design or process changes, measurable quality improvements, and prevention of recurrence.
Strong knowledge of root cause analysis methods, including 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA, and Fault Tree Analysis, with the ability to identify root causes and implement countermeasures.
Experience managing nonconformance systems, including NC, SCAR, and CAPA investigation, action planning, implementation tracking, and closure verification.
Experience working directly with engineering teams on design-for-quality, design-for-manufacturability, and design-for-reliability initiatives.
Working knowledge of Six Sigma tools, including SPC, FMEA, 5S, and DFM; statistical analysis; and process capability studies.
Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5), engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
Experience with quality management software such as TipQA or similar FRACAS applications.
Strong data analysis, statistics, test execution, and technical reporting skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to comprehend and represent technical product specifications.
Self-starter with strong multitasking, project management, and organizational capabilities.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
Strong ownership and accountability for driving issues to resolution and closure.
U.S. citizenship and ability to acquire a secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with optical system integration, alignment, and testing, such as interferometry, optical metrology, or laser characterization.
Familiarity with laser safety standards, laser system design, directed energy systems, or high-power optical systems.
Understanding of opto-mechanical design, precision manufacturing, optical tolerancing, and optical quality control techniques.
Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience, such as Kaizen or Value Stream Mapping.
Familiarity with reliability engineering principles, including MTBF and FMECA.
Experience with Agile/Scrum development and understanding of QA processes for software development.
Active security clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead structured root cause analysis investigations using methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA, CAPA, and Fault Tree Analysis.
Manage nonconformances, supplier corrective action requests, and corrective actions from detection through verified closure.
Coordinate cross-functional teams, maintain accountability, and drive timely resolution of quality issues.
Partner with engineering to develop corrective actions and translate findings into engineering change notices with technical rationale and root-cause linkage.
Verify corrective-action effectiveness through validation testing, process monitoring, and follow-up audits.
Work with manufacturing and engineering to identify capability gaps and implement corrective actions in workflows.
Develop and improve inspection plans, work instructions, and process controls based on design requirements and capability studies.
Drive process improvements, including fixture design, tooling modifications, and design-for-manufacturability initiatives.
Monitor and report production performance for deliverable hardware and software products.
Oversee and continuously improve the Quality Management System and support continued site AS9100 compliance.
Support internal and external AS9100 and customer audits with technical documentation and corrective-action evidence.
Manage nonconformance, supplier corrective action, and corrective action systems; track quality metrics, defect trends, and corrective-action effectiveness.
Participate in PDR, CDR, and CRB design reviews, providing quality input on manufacturability, testability, and reliability.
Facilitate program-level MRB meetings and develop quality documentation.
Act as the quality engineering interface among engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management.
Lead cross-functional corrective-action teams and facilitate problem-solving sessions.
Present quality metrics, corrective-action status, and improvement initiatives to program leadership.
Witness and verify testing of laser and electro-optical systems and review technical documents to provide quality feedback.
Monitor supplier performance and lead supplier quality initiatives.