Staff Engineer, Quality Assurance (R5358)

Shield AI
Wichita Metro Area, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward senior-level candidates comfortable with root cause analysis and quality documentation, this role emphasizes aerospace and defense domain expertise with a strong focus on cross-functional collaboration and field-based work.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5-10 years of aerospace or defense quality engineering and strong analytical skills
    — “5-10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test”
  • Individuals with proven nonconformance management and corrective action experience
    — “Proven experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, corrective action, trend analysis, and quality documentation”
  • Candidates who thrive in cross-functional environments with engineering and manufacturing teams
    — “Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, test operations, supply chain, and program leadership”

Things to consider

  • Travel and outdoor work at test ranges is expected, which may require flexibility and adaptability
    — “Willingness to travel and work outdoors at test ranges and other program requirements”
  • Overtime and weekend work is a requirement in this fast-paced test environment
    — “Ability to work in a fast-paced ground and flight test environment”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with quality tools like 8D, 5 Why’s, and FMEA in your resume and interview responses
    — “Experience using quality tools such as 8D, 5 Why’s, Fishbone diagrams, FMEA, control plans, or process capability analysis”
  • Emphasize your ability to lead quality improvement initiatives and resolve complex issues
    — “Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action efforts for manufacturing defects, supplier issues, test failures”
  • Showcase your familiarity with aerospace quality standards such as AS9100 and ISO9001
    — “Knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001, FAA, DoW, and other aerospace and defense quality standards”
  • Demonstrate your experience with prototype aircraft or mission-critical systems in your application materials
    — “Experience supporting prototype aircraft, weapon systems, or mission critical aerospace systems”
  • Demonstrate your ability to manage and maintain detailed quality documentation
    — “Develop and maintain quality documentation, including inspection plans, control plans, first article inspections”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful quality planning and inspections
  • reduced defect rates
  • compliance with standards
Typical background
Bachelor’s degree in science, Engineering, Technology, and Math (STEM), Quality Engineering or related field

Skills & requirements

Required

Quality AssuranceQuality PlanningInspectionRoot Cause AnalysisCorrective ActionCompliance

Preferred

Aerospace Systems EngineeringSupplier Quality

Stack & domain

Quality PlanningInspectionsReadinessAcceptance ActivitiesEngineering DrawingsSpecificationsWork InstructionsInspection PlansControl PlansFirst Article InspectionsNonconformance ReportsCorrective ActionsQuality RecordsRoot Cause AnalysisQuality DataDefect TrendsPerformanceEscape RatesSupplier QualityQuality Flow-down RequirementsComplianceSafetyAccountabilityContinuous ImprovementAerospaceDefenseCustomerInternal Quality RequirementsQuality EngineeringGround And Flight Test ExecutionMaintenanceManufacturing EngineeringProduction SupportAerospace HardwareInspection MethodsMeasurement ToolsManufacturing ProcessesNonconformance ManagementTrend AnalysisQuality DocumentationInterpret Engineering DrawingsTechnical SpecificationsBills Of MaterialsInspection RequirementsQuality SystemsQuality ControlStatistical AnalysisGD&T MethodologiesSensor Assembly InspectionCmmsComplex Hardware IntegrationDevelopment Test EnvironmentsAnalyticalProblem-solvingCommunicationCross-functionalEngineeringManufacturingTest OperationsSupply ChainProgram LeadershipLiaisonMaterial ManagementSuppliersQuality ProblemsTeamworkAdaptabilityOrganizational Skills

About the role

Original posting from Shield AI via Lever

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

What you'll do::

  • Support quality planning, inspections, readiness, and acceptance activities for the weapons system and subsystems
  • Review engineering drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria
  • Develop and maintain quality documentation, including inspection plans, control plans, first article inspections, nonconformance reports, corrective actions, and quality records
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action efforts for manufacturing defects, supplier issues, test failures, process/procedure failures, and any other quality concerns
  • Support material review board activities, disposition of nonconforming material, and implementation of containment actions
  • Work with manufacturing and engineering teams to build, process capability, and product reliability
  • Analyze quality data, defect trends, performance, and escape rates to identify improvement opportunities
  • Participate in supplier quality activities, including issue resolution, corrective actions, and quality flow-down requirements
  • Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace, defense, customer, and internal quality requirements
  • Promote a culture of safety, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement

Required qualifications::

  • Bachelor’s degree in science, Engineering, Technology, and Math (STEM), Quality Engineering or related field, or similar experience levels supporting developmental test operations.
  • 5-10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
  • Experience in quality engineering, ground and flight test execution, maintenance, manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, production support, or aerospace hardware
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, bills of materials, work instructions, and inspection requirements
  • Proven experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, corrective action, trend analysis, and quality documentation
  • Familiarity with inspection methods, measurement tools, and manufacturing processes used in aerospace or complex hardware integration and development test environments
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
  • Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, test operations, supply chain, and program leadership
  • Maintains liaison with manufacturing, engineering, material management, suppliers to resolve quality problems
  • Detail-oriented approach with a strong commitment to product quality and process discipline
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced ground and flight test environment
  • Willingness to travel and work outdoors at test ranges and other program requirements
  • Overtime and weekend coverage as required

Preferred qualifications::

  • 10+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
  • Knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001, FAA, DoW, and other aerospace and defense quality standards
  • Experience with first acritical inspections
  • Experience supporting protype aircraft, weapon systems, or mission critical aerospace systems
  • Familiarity with configuration management, drawing release processes, and engineering change processes
  • Experience using quality tools such as 8D, 5 Why’s, Fishbone diagrams, FMEA, control plans, or process capability analysis
  • Certified Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or related certification

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Source: Shield AI careers (Lever)

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