Lead Quality Engineer - Launch

SUMMARY

Quality Assurance owns the processes and tools by which Firefly identifies, contains, eliminates, and prevents non-conformances. Quality is charged with defining and maintaining the processes and tools which prove product capabilities meet requirements and result in a predictably economical and reliable product.

The Firefly Quality Engineer is responsible for the development and maintenance of processes, equipment, and plans for inspection and acceptance of qualification and flight hardware and software products. They are responsible for containment, root cause analysis, and corrective actions – in addition to periodic auditing – to ensure products are reliable and economical. Verifying that all key performance and design characteristics are met prior to launch, Quality Engineers play a critical role in ensuring mission success.

This position is located at our launch site in Vandenberg, CA.

• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams through product development and production to create quality plans for flight products, including identification of key characteristics, development testing for functionality and manufacturability, first article and detailed inspection planning, and consideration of past failures and lessons learned.
• Lead the Quality Assurance Team in Vandenberg (Quality Inspectors, Quality Specialists).
• Support assigned shifts by coordinating resources, resolving issues, and ensuring alignment with daily and long‑term production objectives.
• Manage and document effective shift handovers to ensure seamless communication, production continuity, and accountability between shifts.
• Conduct daily pre‑shift readiness checks and support end‑of‑shift reviews to ensure smooth transition to incoming shifts.
• Approve PTO and timecards; manage inspector schedules to support launch objectives.
• Develop and maintain inspection plans on launch vehicle components, sub‑assemblies (fluids, avionics, structural), and associated ground support equipment.
• Develop and maintain equipment, training, and standard work instructions for detailed inspection programs which assure adherence to design, specification, and testing requirements.
• Ensure that all actions required for product acceptance are conducted accurately and efficiently, in alignment with all customer requirements and regulatory standards.
• Generate accurate records for traceability and pedigree of customer‑deliverable products, including records of First Article Inspection.
• Identify and document non‑conformances affecting product reliability and launch efficiency.
• Collect, track, and trend launch data on first‑pass yield and non‑conformance issues, performing basic statistical analysis on variable data.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to investigate and resolve non‑conformance or quality issues, including development and implementation of robust corrective actions to prevent recurrences.
• Develop and execute quarantine plans to identify, control, and disposition all affected non‑conforming product.
• Maintain tool control and calibration processes within assigned department – including validation of metrology systems.
• Plan and perform periodic product and process audits to ensure compliance with Firefly Quality Management System.
• Implement standards, tools, and methods to ensure the effectiveness of quality processes and sustain quality performance improvements.
• Execute projects and process improvements to reduce cost of poor quality.
• Review designs and provide feedback to mitigate manufacturability and inspection challenges.
• Review procedures and launch metrics that impact quality and make necessary changes to ensure compliance with standards and requirements for mission success.
• Provide research and interpretation of regulations and requirements to ensure compliance with external standards.
• Participate in technical operations and offer guidance and/or serve as an additional technical engineering resource.
• Initiate and execute plans to improve product quality, reliability, and inspection efficiency.
• Apply 5S workplace organization & follow the Lean initiatives.
• Support manufacturing compliance to customer and internal…