# Staff Quality Engineer

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX
**Role:** QA Engineering
**Salary:** $100k – $150k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** Root Cause Analysis, corrective action, capa, 8d, pfmea, control plans, GD&T, statistical process control, as9100, as9102, material review board, apqp, ppap, lean manufacturing, six sigma
**Posted:** 2026-08-04

> Leads production quality engineering for advanced unmanned aircraft systems, including nonconformance disposition, root cause investigations, corrective actions, process controls, and production readiness. Requires a bachelor's degree and at least three years of manufacturing quality experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities

### Production Quality Support
- Serve as the primary Quality Engineering representative for assigned manufacturing areas.
- Partner with Production and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure manufacturing processes consistently produce conforming product.
- Provide daily support for production quality issues and remove quality-related barriers to manufacturing.
- Evaluate production trends and identify opportunities to improve quality, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Participate in daily production meetings and escalation activities.

### Nonconformance & MRB
- Review and disposition nonconforming material in accordance with company procedures and engineering requirements.
- Lead or support Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
- Coordinate with Design Engineering to develop repair, rework, or use-as-is dispositions when appropriate.
- Ensure timely closure of nonconformance reports while maintaining product integrity and regulatory compliance.
- Identify recurring nonconformances and implement corrective actions to eliminate repeat issues.

### Root Cause & Corrective Action
- Lead structured root cause investigations using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and Fault Tree Analysis methodologies.
- Develop, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Monitor corrective action effectiveness using quality metrics and trend analysis.
- Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving teams to resolve complex manufacturing issues.

### Process Improvement
- Develop and implement process controls that improve manufacturing capability and product quality.
- Support Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Control Plans, and risk assessments.
- Validate manufacturing process changes to ensure quality requirements continue to be met.
- Reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), scrap, rework, and repair through data-driven improvements.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.

### Production Readiness
- Review engineering changes and assess manufacturing quality impacts.
- Participate in design reviews to improve manufacturability and inspectability.
- Support introduction of new products into production.
- Develop inspection strategies and acceptance criteria for new assemblies and components.
- Support First Article Inspection (FAI) planning and execution in accordance with AS9102.

### Quality Management System
- Ensure compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and internal quality procedures.
- Develop and maintain quality documentation, including inspection plans, quality procedures, and work instructions.
- Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits.
- Develop quality metrics and dashboards to monitor manufacturing performance.
- Train manufacturing personnel on quality standards, workmanship requirements, and defect prevention.

## Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in manufacturing quality engineering, aerospace manufacturing, or a related industry.
- Experience supporting production operations in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
- Experience with statistical analysis, data interpretation, and quality metrics.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple issues in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Experience in aerospace, defense, or UAV manufacturing.
- Working knowledge of AS9100 requirements.
- Experience with Material Review Board (MRB) processes and nonconformance management.
- Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Validation, and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
- Knowledge of APQP, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and risk-based quality planning.

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