Programme Quality Engineer I

EDGE; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

EDGE, based in the United Arab Emirates, seeks a Programme Quality Engineer I (PQE I) to lead quality assurance across the full lifecycle from design to production readiness in a fast-paced aerospace setting.

You will implement the QA Plan, drive continual improvement, coordinate with engineering, DFAM, manufacturing, and suppliers, and ensure compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D standards. This role is Abu Dhabi-based and requires strong governance capabilities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautics, Systems, Electrical, Electronics & Mechatronics Engineering.
• 6-8 years of Quality Assurance experience in aerospace, defence, aviation, or high-precision manufacturing.
• Proven knowledge of quality assurance techniques and methodologies (ISO 9001:2015, preferably AS9100D).
• Experience with testing tools and software test equipment and Quality Engineering.
• Applied knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning and First Article Inspection tools and techniques.
• Background knowledge of guided missiles, drones, UAV, space satellites or complex multidisciplinary systems.
• Technical report writing.
• Creativity and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA across the full lifecycle, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, contractual, and company requirements from design through production readiness.
• Develop, maintain, and implement the QA Plan (QAP) and ensure activities align with milestones.
• Provide independent quality oversight and governance, including during programme reviews and management reviews.
• Manage QA activities covering design, development, integration, verification, validation, qualification, testing, and production readiness.
• Review and approve programme deliverables and quality documentation, including design docs and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs).
• Lead non-conformance, deviation, and concession management with root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Oversee testing and product release readiness, ensuring configuration control and safety compliance.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to align on quality requirements and drive compliance.
• Plan, support and follow up audits, assessments and configuration reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement and quality culture using metrics and data-driven actions.

Skills

Quality Assurance

ISO 9001/AS9100

Testing tools

APQP

First Article

Technical reporting

Aerospace domain

Creativity

Education

Aerospace Engineering degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Quality Engineering tools

FAIR tooling

Testing equipment

Job description

Job Description:

About Edge

At EDGE bold ideas are engineered into technologies that protect, improve and save lives.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, EDGE is a leading advanced technology group working at the forefront of defence and emerging technologies. Spanning more than 35 specialised companies and multiple centres of excellence, we are purpose-built to move fast. Free from heavy legacy processes, we give our people the autonomy, accountability, and agility to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

Based in Abu Dhabi, a globally connected hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, EDGE is home to a truly multicultural community where bold ideas thrive, and the future is shaped.

Together, we are shaping the future.

About The Role

The Programme Quality Engineer I (PQE I) at HALCON is responsible for planning, coordinating, and assuring quality activities throughout the Programme lifecycle, ensuring that products, processes, and activities comply with applicable standards, customer, contractual, regulatory, and company requirements. Acting as a designated quality focal point for assigned Programme or scope, the PQE I provides independent quality oversight, supports Programme governance and decision-making, manages quality risks and non-conformances within assigned scope, promotes continual improvement, and coordinates quality activities across Programme Management, Engineering, Design for Advanced Manufacturing (DFAM), Manufacturing, Configuration Management, other Quality functions, and relevant interfacing functions.

The PQE I ensures that quality requirements are effectively embedded and verified across design, development, verification, validation, qualification, production, and acceptance activities, supporting the timely delivery of conforming products. This role is responsible for end-to-end programme quality support, ensuring compliance, product integrity, testing readiness, risk management, audit governance, stakeholder coordination, and continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead Programme Quality Assurance across the full lifecycle, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, contractual, and company requirements from design through production readiness.
• Develop, maintain, and implement the Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) and ensure quality activities are executed in line with approved plans, standards, procedures, and milestones.
• Provide independent quality oversight and governance, including participation in programme reviews, stage gate reviews, and management reviews, reporting on quality status, risks, and recommendations.
• Manage quality assurance activities covering design, development, integration, verification, validation, qualification, testing, and production readiness to ensure product conformity and readiness.
• Review and approve programme deliverables and quality documentation, including design documentation, First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs), quality reports, and key programme data packages.
• Lead non-conformance, deviation, and concession management, ensuring effective root cause analysis, risk assessment, corrective actions, stakeholder communication, and timely closure through appropriate governance processes.
• Oversee testing and product release readiness, ensuring configuration control, traceability, calibration status, safety compliance and adherence to approved test procedures.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to ensure alignment on quality requirements, resolve quality issues, support supplier quality activities and drive compliance throughout the programme.
• Plan, support and follow up audits, assessments and configuration reviews, ensuring findings, actions and continuous improvement initiatives are effectively implemented and closed.
• Drive continuous improvement and quality culture, using quality metrics, risk analysis lessons learned, and data-driven corrective and preventive actions to enhance programme performance and product quality.

Basic Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautics, Systems, Electrical, Electronics & Mechatronics Engineering
• 6-8 years of Quality Assurance experience in the aerospace, defence, aviation, or high-precision manufacturing industry
• Proven knowledge of quality assurance techniques and methodologies (ISO 9001:2015, preferably AS9100D)
• Experience with testing tools and software test equipment and Quality Engineering
• Applied knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning and First Article Inspection tools and techniques
• Background knowledge of guided missiles, drones, UAV, space satellites or complex multidisciplinary systems that include subsystems such as warheads/fuzes, seekers, propulsion/motors, avionics, actuators, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) Assemblies
• Technical report writing
• Creativity and innovation

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related Engineering discipline
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) certified or similar,
• Chartered Member of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)
• Certified Explosive worker (to Explosives Act 15 0f 2003
• Explosives Regulations of the OHS Act 85 of 1993)

WHY CHOOSE EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.

At EDGE, the real investment goes beyond compensation. Through our dedicated learning academy and digital learning platforms, employees have access to extensive opportunities to develop new skills, deepen their expertise, and advance their careers. Combined with the freedom to innovate, strong career support and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class talent from across the globe, EDGE is a place where you can continue to grow, keep learning, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Working at EDGE also comes with a package that genuinely reflects how much we value our people. Salaries are highly competitive and tax-free and, depending on your role and seniority, benefits can include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for your children.

CANDIDATE PRIVACY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

If you feel your skills, experience and potential are a strong match for a role, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. We are genuinely interested in what you can bring to EDGE.

Any information you share as part of your EDGE candidate profile or job application will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.

EDGE is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. We believe every individual deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and our employment decisions reflect that. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

As a global organisation, effective collaboration across international teams is central to how we work, so English proficiency is required for all roles unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

Please note that EDGE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes in the absence of a formally executed agreement in place will be deemed the property of EDGE, and no placement fees or compensation will be payable in respect of such submissions.

Requirements: