Senior Quality Engineer

Location:

Irvine, United States of America

Irvine, CA (Hybrid)

Thales is looking for a Senior Quality Engineer to perform a high‑level quality engineering and quality assurance function in hardware development, manufacturing, and in‑service products. Additional responsibilities include completing tasks and fulfilling roles related to Advance Product Quality Planning (APQP), Regulatory Airworthiness and Thales PMA Organization Designation Authorization (ODA).

In this position, you will also interact with internal cross‑functional teams such as Operations, Engineering, Finance, Program Management and external organizations such as customers, suppliers, service providers, and regulatory agencies. As the Senior Quality Engineer, you will be expected to also serve as a delegate when needed, lead cross‑functional teams to complete tasks & projects (e.g. audits, continual improvements, development of new processes, etc.),

and provide mentorship and problem‑solving guidance to team members.

• Provides direction and facilitates activities related to Quality Assurance, APQP, Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), Safety Management System (SMS), Product Safety Board, Regulatory, and PMA ODA (at Irvine California and Orlando Florida facilities).
• Confidently makes decisions relative to personnel assignments and functional technical requirements with regards to Hardware Quality Assurance and PMA ODA without requiring approval from the Hardware QA manager/director and PMA ODA Administrator.
• Leads discussions with cross departmental team members for continual improvement efforts and problem resolution; conducts problem‑solving circles, continuous improvement activities, and root cause analysis training; verifies requirements and submits PMA application packages to the PMA ODA Administrator.
• Performs reviews and assessments of:
  Hardware Quality Engineer and PMA ODA Unit Member performance;
  Hardware Quality Assurance roles and responsibilities; reports related to product safety investigations and reports/presentations submitted by Hardware Quality Engineers; process compliance, risks, and maturity level during the execution of design and development projects, product design, configuration control, manufacturing processes, and supplier control; technical and contractual requirements flow down and traceability; APQP deliverables, RCCA plans.
• Reporting / Documentation:
  Provides reports, presentations, formal communications (memos, letters, etc.); revises procedures, forms, inspection instructions; develops reports on the status of tasks and objectives (via written or verbal means).

• Bachelor of Science degree with 4+ years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; accomplished Aerospace industry professional with active involvement in Regulatory Airworthiness activities and use of Regulatory websites.
• Highly experienced within Quality Assurance and Quality Engineering functions across manufacturing environments including Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, and Contract Manufacturing; strong understanding of Quality Assurance tools and terminology including FMEA, RCCA, SPC, Control Plans, Containment, Material Review Board (MRB), Configuration Control, and Quality Assurance Plans.
• Seasoned in the implementation of APQP and highly capable in facilitating teams through all phases of APQP (AS9145) and related tools; proficient in nonconforming parts containment, root cause corrective action, quality systems/process audits, and leading Product Safety Board meetings through thorough evaluation of product safety reports.
• Competent in managing individuals, leading teams, conducting personnel performance evaluations, resolving conflicts related to personnel performance, workload prioritization, and process compliance; able to provide effective solutions aligned to situational objectives and scope while maintaining composure in stressful situations.
• Strong technical and manufacturing comprehension including the use of mechanical inspection tools (calipers, rulers, scales, etc.), interpretation of two‑dimensional…