Quality Engineer

Owns the day-to-day quality engineering activities that ensure product conformity and drive continuous improvement within PPSI's AS9100D quality management system. Responsible for First Article Inspection, inspection and sampling planning, nonconformance and corrective action, supplier and customer quality, and process control across PPSI's aerospace, defense, space, industrial, and energy production. Works with full autonomy on standard scope and partners with the Senior Quality Engineer and Quality Manager on the most complex issues.

Maintains an independent product acceptance and quality oversight role while collaborating closely with engineering and production. Reports to the Quality Manager.

• Plan, perform, and approve First Article Inspections (FAI) to AS9102, including dimensional, visual, and functional verification and complete FAI report packages.
• Develop inspection plans, sampling plans, and inspection criteria for new and existing products, balancing risk, cost, and customer requirements.
• Own nonconformance processing for assigned products, including disposition recommendations and participation in Material Review Board (MRB) decisions.
• Lead root cause analysis and own corrective and preventive action (CAPA) for assigned quality issues, driving actions to verified closure.
• Manage supplier quality for assigned suppliers, including incoming inspection strategy, Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs), and supplier performance monitoring.
• Prepare and own customer corrective action responses (8D) for assigned customers, serving as a quality point of contact.
• Conduct internal quality system audits against AS9100D and assigned process areas, and track findings to closure.
• Perform measurement system analysis (MSA) and gauge R&R studies, and support the calibration program.
• Establish and monitor process controls including SPC, defect tracking, first-pass yield, and escape metrics; recommend improvements based on data.
• Support the systemic corrective action side of returned material (RMA) by driving CAPA and process improvements from field and customer returns.
• Maintain accurate, complete quality records in the quality management system.
• Ensure quality activities comply with AS9100D, ITAR, IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 requirements.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, SMT Process Engineering, and Production while maintaining quality's independent product acceptance authority.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field, or equivalent related work experience. A relevant professional certification (such as ASQ CQE) is a plus.
• 2 to 5 years of hands-on quality engineering experience in electronics or regulated manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Hands-on experience with First Article Inspection to AS9102.
• Working knowledge of quality tools (CAPA, 8D, FMEA, SPC, MSA, gauge R&R) and root cause analysis methods.
• Experience with nonconformance and MRB processes, supplier quality (SCAR), and customer corrective action.
• Solid ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, BOMs, specifications, and customer documentation.
• Proficiency with measurement and inspection tools and methods.
• Working knowledge of IPC standards (IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620) and familiarity with ITAR requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify issues, propose data-driven solutions, and make sound disposition decisions.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP and quality management systems and with Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively interact with customers, internal teams, and suppliers.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while maintaining quality independence.