Principal Engineer Quality

Description

The company builds systems in aerospace and defense. This Principal Engineer Quality role is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and supports the NIMS program with product-focused quality leadership.

You will own the Sell-Off and End Item Data Package (EIDP) process and provide quality engineering support across the full product lifecycle.

You will work with engineering, program management, manufacturing, supply chain and customer representatives to define quality requirements, flow them down correctly and verify them from incoming material through final acceptance.

Responsibilities

• Be the main quality contact for NIMS Sell-Off and EIDP work in Salt Lake City.
• Plan, write and maintain Sell-Off and EIDP content, including configuration listings, as-built records, test data, inspection reports, material certifications, waivers, deviations and other required artifacts.
• Make sure customer, contract and internal quality requirements are read correctly, built into program plans and verified at acceptance.
• Lead or support customer Sell-Off events: prepare agendas, walk through packages, resolve discrepancies and handle formal acceptance paperwork.
• Work with systems, test, manufacturing and software engineering to keep requirements traceability and objective evidence complete and accurate.
• Support the MRB for NIMS hardware by reviewing nonconformances, taking part in MRB meetings and confirming dispositions match engineering, quality and contract requirements.
• Help evaluate and disposition nonconforming product, including use-as-is, repair and scrap, with proper documentation and traceability.
• Support Receiving Inspection by reviewing inspection plans, sampling plans and acceptance criteria for incoming material and supplier hardware.
• Help the Vendor Material Disposition Area (VMDA) segregate, tag, disposition and document nonconforming supplier material on time and accurately.
• Work with manufacturing and test teams so build records, test data, nonconformance files and rework or repair records meet program and customer expectations.
• Identify, document and help close nonconformances, defects and escapes tied to product acceptance and EIDPs.
• Support or lead Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) work using structured methods such as 5-Why, Fishbone and 8D, and help put corrective and preventive actions in place and keep them working.
• Develop and maintain NIMS program-level quality plans, inspection plans and acceptance data requirements from incoming inspection through final Sell-Off.
• Give quality input to program reviews such as design, production readiness and gate reviews, and send concise quality status to leadership and the customer.
• Analyze quality metrics and trends for nonconformances, rework, supplier performance and acceptance issues, then recommend and help carry out improvements.
• Support internal, customer and regulatory audits and assessments covering product quality, configuration and documentation.
• Mentor early-career quality engineers and serve as a technical resource on product acceptance, MRB and EIDP practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with at least 5 years of experience in quality assurance, failure investigation and root cause analysis, or in manufacturing, process, electrical or mechanical engineering performing technical work. A Master's degree requires 3 years of that experience.
• Experience in hardware, systems or manufacturing quality in aerospace, defense or a similarly regulated environment.
• Experience supporting the MRB and nonconformance management, including documenting defects and taking part in MRB or similar reviews.
• Experience with a QMS standard such as AS9100, ISO 9001 or similar.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test procedures and requirements documents.
• Experience with digital quality systems such as nonconformance or MRB tools, PLM or ERP.
• Communicate and collaborate well in a team, and work with customers, internal staff and suppliers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Preferred: direct experience developing and running EIDPs or Sell-Off packages for government contracting customers.
• Preferred: experience with receiving inspection or supplier quality, such as incoming inspection, supplier defects and return-to-vendor.
• Preferred: experience with configuration management and as-built or as-maintained traceability.
• Preferred: experience with electronics assembly standards such as IPC-A-610, IPC-J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, IPC-7711/7721, and UL or IEC electrical safety and insulation standards for electronic equipment.
• Preferred: Green Belt, Black Belt, CQE or another relevant quality certification.
• Preferred: experience leading cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority and closing complex issues under schedule pressure.
• Preferred: a current active Secret clearance.

Conditions

Salt Lake City, Utah.

Travel: 10% of the time.

Secret clearance type. A clearance is not required to start.

No relocation assistance is available.

Pay range: $89,400.00 to $134,200.00 base. Final pay depends on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills and market conditions.

The posting is open for an estimated 20 days from the posting date, and may close earlier or later depending on business needs and candidate availability.

The company is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits

• Depending on the role, eligibility may include overtime, shift differential and a discretionary annual bonus based on individual contribution and company results.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, paid company holidays and paid time off for vacation or personal business.