Lead Quality Engineer

** Lead Quality Engineer*
* ** Beltsville, MD (on-site)*
* ** 12 Month Contract W2*
* ** Lead Quality Engineer

Job Summary
** The Lead Quality Engineer provides technical leadership to drive product and process quality performance across assigned value streams, products, customers, and suppliers. This role ensures compliance with  Quality Management System requirements, applicable industry standards, and customer-specific requirements while deploying advanced quality tools and methodologies. The Lead Quality Engineer leads problem-solving, corrective and preventive actions, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives to prevent defects, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce Cost of Non-Conformance (CONC).

Additionally, this position provides technical guidance to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams while supporting quality planning, supplier performance, manufacturing process capability, and operational excellence.

** Job Responsibilities
*** Ensure compliance with applicable customer, regulatory, and industry standards, including AS9100, ISO 9001, and internal quality procedures.
* Support internal and external audits, quality assessments, and corrective action activities.
* Deploy Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies and support Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions and approvals.
* Develop, implement, and maintain control plans, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), inspection methods, validation activities, and product launch readiness requirements.
* Improve manufacturing process capability through Statistical Process Control (SPC), mistake-proofing, and process variation reduction initiatives.
* Lead investigations of customer complaints, product escapes, and returned materials.
* Drive containment activities, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions to address quality issues and prevent recurrence.
* Facilitate structured problem-solving using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Analysis, Pareto Analysis, and other advanced quality methodologies.
* Partner with Supplier Quality and Supply Chain teams to improve supplier quality, performance, and compliance.
* Serve as a subject matter expert in quality management systems, quality tools, and customer-specific requirements.
* Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Quality Engineers and cross-functional teams.
* Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product reliability, reduce quality costs, and support operational excellence.
* Support the deployment of Quality Management System requirements and Business System tools across assigned areas.
** Job Qualifications
*** Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
* Minimum of five years of experience in manufacturing, quality engineering, supplier quality, or a related technical field.
* Experience working within a regulated quality management system environment.
** Preferred Qualifications
*** Experience in aerospace manufacturing.
* Working knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 quality management system requirements.
* Experience deploying APQP methodologies and supporting PPAP submissions and approvals.
* Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or higher.
* ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.
* Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.
* Experience using program management tools and advanced problem-solving methodologies.
* Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive corrective actions, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.