Aerospace Quality Engineer (ARP4754 / APQP)

Safran companies; California, Irvine (MO, CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Aerospace Quality Engineer to oversee Development Quality Assurance activities. This role involves ensuring compliance with industry standards, conducting audits, and developing quality plans for aircraft systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the aerospace sector, strong leadership skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams. Join a forward-thinking company that values quality and innovation, and play a crucial role in delivering high-quality aerospace solutions while collaborating with international partners.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Development Quality Assurance in the Aerospace Industry.
• Advanced English level for communication with international stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop process assurance plans and ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Conduct audits and reviews of systems and documentation for quality assurance.

Skills

Development Quality Assurance

Communication Skills

Project Management

Critical Thinking

Leadership Skills

Quality Control Analysis

Education

STEM Bachelor's Degree

Tools

IBM DOORS

JIRA

Job description

Aerospace Quality Engineer

Published 01.29.2025

Company: Safran Electronics & Defense
Job field: Quality
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Contract type: Permanent
Contract duration: Full-time
Required degree: Bachelor's Degree
Required experience: More than 8 years
Professional status: Professional, Engineer & Manager
Salary range: $105,000 to $150,000

Job Summary
The Aerospace Quality Engineer covers the function of the Development Quality Assurance (AQE) activities for Safran Electronics & Defense, Avionics, working with aircraft equipment, such as hydro-mechanical & electromechanical aircraft control systems, aircraft cockpit switches, latches, and optics components.

The AQE is independent from the engineering organization, responsible for auditing and reviewing the systems supporting documentation, standards, requirements, and processes in accordance with ARP-4754A and other applicable industry and regulatory standards. The AQE ensures effective implementation of the program plan and full compliance of customer, regulatory and company requirements, to achieve company business objectives on all activities performed by the engineering organization. The AQE also has full authority to make quality judgments on deliverable software and systems documentation.

Essential Job Functions
• Develop process assurance plans, development quality plans and standards based on ARP 4754A and other industry standards.
• Provide metrics to customers and regulatory agencies that demonstrate compliance to ARP 4754A process assurance plans and other design engineering documentation.
• Ensure that project plans are consistent with the development assurance level of the aircraft function, system, or item.
• Ensure that project communications, coordination and sequencing, and progress monitoring mechanisms are defined and are followed.
• Prepare, participate in and support action closure of major project milestones, including but not limited to Stages of Involvement milestone per ARP4754A standard.
• Ensure that established standards and processes exist and are adhered to for the entire life cycle of a system and subsystem development.
• Create audit schedules based on activities identified in the program's master schedule.
• Review of project plans such as System Development and Verification Plan, System Integration Validation and Verification Plan, system interface requirements and design process, configuration management plan, change management process and validation plan.
• Perform independent reviews and audits of both the processes and their outputs to obtain objective evidence that the system (and processes used to develop the system) and subsystem complies with the plans, methods and/or standards.

Complementary Description

• Reviews and audits system artifacts prior to releasing under formal configuration control.
• Detect any deficiencies and evaluate, track and resolve them in collaboration with the cross-functional team.
• Maintain records of the audit process, including evidence of assessment of completion of design activities.
• Verify compliance to industry standards like ARP4754A, AS9145 and Safran standards of plans developed by engineering for system and subsystem development, configuration management, validation/verification activities, and the release of documentation.
• Review and approve all development artifacts required for certification and released through the releasing organization.
• Participate in peer reviews across the development life cycle of the program.
• Develop and document the Development Assurance Process for Safran Electronics & Defense, Avionics, based on the existing best practices and requirements from the Safran organization, customers and airworthiness authorities.
• Other duties as required.

Job Requirements

Education/Experience
• STEM Bachelor's degree required.
• Proven experience in Development Quality Assurance in the Aerospace Industry (Safran standards is preferable)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Experience with airborne systems development process assurance and the ability to develop the necessary plans and standards in accordance with SAE ARP 4754A, SAE ARP 4761, RTCA DO-178C, RTCA DO-254, and other applicable guidelines and standards in support of FAR Parts 23 and 25 certification.
• Familiarity with avionic systems, proficiency with IBM DOORS and JIRA software, understanding of Requirement-Based Engineering (RBE) philosophy.
• Development Assurance Excellence (Develop and follow the required processes and verifications)
• Advanced English level (Communicates with international customers, operations and senior leadership; formal documentation writing)
• Leadership skills demonstration (Lead & Influence the teams)
• Effective Communication (Status, Risks identification, Plans, Help needed)
• Proactive Approach (Meeting deadlines, presenting improvements, driving improvement plans)
• Proven knowledge in quality standards & tools (e.g., RCCA, 8D, Ishikawa, 5 whys, APQP/PPAP/ AS9100)
• Organization and Project Management skills (e.g., Planning, Actions Follow up, Execution)

Leadership Skills / Management Skills / Personal Skills
• Change agent
• Communication skills and active listening, ability to interact effectively with all levels of management
• Ability to manage and solve conflicts
• Ability to analyze and synthesize
• Customer oriented
• Integrity
• Quality Control Analysis
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking

Travel Specificity
Potential travel between Irvine, California and other locations up to 10%.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and occasionally move about the office and laboratory. Constantly operates and uses a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copier/printer. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. The ability to observe, identify and assess details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds across the office for various needs.

Work Environment
The work environment is in the office. Noise level in the office is typically quiet.

Experience in relevant Business sector
Experience within aerospace industry a plus, not required.

Specificity of the job

Potential travel between Irvine, California and other locations up to 10%.