Senior Quality Engineer

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

19d•$130,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

Quality at Firestorm isn't a policing function — it's a competitive advantage. We're looking for a Senior Quality Engineer who understands the difference and wants to build something from the ground up. There is no inherited QMS to maintain, no entrenched process to defend. You'll establish the quality foundation for xCell — from supplier inputs through manufacturing execution — and you'll do it on a team that sees quality as everyone's job, not just yours. You are someone who is energized by root cause analysis, not intimidated by it. You can also sit across from a supplier and drive accountability and then turn around and work shoulder to shoulder with our engineering and manufacturing teams to make sure the fix actually sticks. If you've spent your career closing loops and making things better, keep reading.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related discipline) or in lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years’ experience of relative experience.
U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
5+ years of progressive quality engineering experience in an aerospace, defense, or precision manufacturing environment.
Experience with Continuous Improvement (CI) tools and methodologies.
Experience working within an AS9100 or equivalent quality management system.
Experience with inspection tools and measurement techniques (i.e. CMM, GD&T interpretation, and/or calibration practices).
Experience conducting or supporting root cause analysis (RCCA) using structured methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, etc.).
Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and/or GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
Experience with statistical quality tools: i.e. SPC, Cpk/Ppk, MSA, and/or control charts.

Nice To Haves

AS9100 Lead Auditor certification or internal auditor training.
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Technician (CQT).
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification or equivalent CI methodologies and tools.
Experience with FMEA, control plans, PPAP and/or APQP methodologies.
Experience supporting DCMA, FAA, or other regulatory audits.
Familiarity with inspection requirements and challenges associated with additive manufacturing, including complex geometries and unique acceptance criteria.

Responsibilities

Lead structured investigations on internal manufacturing escapes and supplier nonconformances, drive corrective actions to closure, and ensure lessons learned actually change how we operate.
Be the primary interface with suppliers on quality issues, from nonconforming material disposition through corrective action follow-up and ongoing supplier performance monitoring.
Develop and maintain inspection criteria, work instructions, and acceptance standards that keep pace with our evolving product line.
Own the process for nonconforming material (NCMR) from identification through disposition, including MRB participation.
Work alongside engineering and manufacturing to ensure quality is designed in, not inspected in; support NPI and ECO implementation with a quality lens.
Contribute to building a quality management system that will ultimately serve all of Firestorm, not just xCell.
Define the quality indicators that matter, track them, and use them to drive improvement.
Collaborate with production supervisors and operators to resolve in-process quality escapes and minimize defect rates.
Develop, review, and maintain process control plans, control charts, and statistical process control (SPC) metrics as needed.
Analyze process data to identify trends, variation sources, and improvement opportunities; drive data-driven decision making.
Identify and implement process improvements to reduce waste, rework, and scrap in alignment with continuous improvement goals.
Support customer source inspections and third-party audits as required.
Travel up to 20%, if the need arises.
Perform other duties as needed.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
Equity grants for new hires
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Unlimited PTO
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in July & December.
Generous Parental Leave
Lifestyle Spending Account
FSA
DCFSA
HSA
Hospital Indemnity insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.