Flight Test Quality Engineer – Aerospace Systems

Shield AI; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Quality Engineer to support development, inspection, execution, and continuous improvement of the X-BAT program. The role ensures hardware, assemblies, suppliers, and processes meet engineering requirements and quality standards.

You will work with test operations, manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, program management, and suppliers to identify quality risks, resolve nonconformances, and deliver reliable mission-critical operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM, Quality Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5–10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test in aerospace.
• Experience in quality engineering, ground and flight test execution, or aerospace hardware.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, bills of materials, work instructions, and inspection requirements.
• Proven experience with nonconformance management, root cause analysis, corrective action, trend analysis, and quality documentation.
• Familiarity with inspection methods, measurement tools, and manufacturing processes in aerospace or complex hardware integration.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, test operations, supply chain, and program leadership.
• Willingness to travel and work outdoors at test ranges and other program requirements.
• Overtime and weekend coverage as required.

Responsibilities

• Support quality planning, inspections, readiness, and acceptance activities for the weapons system and subsystems.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria.
• Develop and maintain quality documentation, including inspection plans, control plans, first article inspections, nonconformance reports, corrective actions, and quality records.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action efforts for manufacturing defects, supplier issues, test failures, process/procedure failures, and any other quality concerns.
• Support material review board activities, disposition of nonconforming material, and implementation of containment actions.
• Work with manufacturing and engineering teams to build, process capability, and product reliability.
• Analyze quality data, defect trends, performance, and escape rates to identify improvement opportunities.
• Participate in supplier quality activities, including issue resolution, corrective actions, and quality flow-down requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace, defense, customer, and internal quality requirements.
• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality engineering

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

AS9100 knowledge

FMEA

8D problem solving

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Quality Engineer to support development, inspection, execution, and continuous improvement of the X-BAT program. The role ensures hardware, assemblies, suppliers, and processes meet engineering requirements and quality standards.

You will work with test operations, manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, program management, and suppliers to identify quality risks, resolve nonconformances, and deliver reliable mission-critical operations.