Hardware Quality Engineer

Socket.dev; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

LeoLabs in Menlo Park, CA is seeking a Hardware Quality Engineer to ensure hardware quality and reliability across PCBAs, electromechanical systems, and structural hardware. This hands-on role collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to build scalable quality processes and drive continuous improvement throughout the hardware lifecycle.

The successful candidate will lead root-cause investigations, CAPAs, and implement robust inspection plans and documentation for new products,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or related field.
• 5+ years of hardware quality assurance/quality engineering experience.
• Experience with PCBAs, electronic assemblies, and electromechanical products in manufacturing.
• Strong root-cause analysis and corrective-action skills.
• Experience reading engineering drawings, schematics, BOMs and manufacturing docs.
• Quality data-driven process improvement experience.
• Familiarity with Arena or similar PLM, NetSuite or ERP, and Altium Designer.
• Able to obtain and maintain U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain quality processes for electronic and electromechanical hardware.
• Perform incoming, in-process, and final quality inspections (PCBAs, cables, machined parts).
• Lead root cause investigations for defects and supplier issues.
• Drive CAPA and verify effectiveness.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to improve quality.
• Define metrics, analyze trends, and report to leadership.
• Create inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and quality docs for new products.
• Support supplier qualification, audits, and first article inspections.
• Maintain and improve quality management systems and standards.

Skills

Quality engineering

Root cause analysis

Process improvement

SOP documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Arena PLM

NetSuite

SolidWorks

Job description

Why LeoLabs?

At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.

We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top‑tier space operators and allied defense organizations.

If you're looking to work on mission‑critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.

As a Hardware Quality Engineer, you will help ensure the hardware we build meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and manufacturability. You will work across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and external suppliers to develop scalable quality processes, investigate failures, and drive continuous improvement throughout the hardware lifecycle. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and helping teams build better hardware.

You will support quality initiatives across printed circuit board assemblies, electromechanical systems, cable assemblies, machined components, and structural hardware. This is a full‑time, onsite position based in Menlo Park, California.

At this time, LeoLabs is not engaging external staffing agencies or third‑party recruiting firms for this role. Unsolicited candidate submissions will not be considered.

You will be responsible for:

• Develop and maintain quality processes for electronic and electromechanical hardware throughout the product lifecycle
• Perform incoming, in‑process, and final quality inspections for PCBAs, cable assemblies, machined components, and structural hardware
• Lead root cause investigations for manufacturing defects, supplier issues, and field failures using structured problem‑solving methodologies
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verify their effectiveness
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and suppliers to improve product quality and manufacturability
• Define quality metrics, analyze trends, and communicate performance to engineering and leadership
• Develop inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and quality documentation for new products
• Support supplier qualification, audits, and first article inspections
• Help maintain and improve quality management systems and ensure compliance with applicable industry standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in hardware quality assurance or quality engineering
• Experience supporting PCBAs, electronic assemblies, and electromechanical products in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, schematics, bills of materials, and manufacturing documentation
• Experience using quality data to drive process improvements and reduce defects
• Familiarity with Arena or another PLM system, NetSuite or another ERP system, and Altium Designer
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. personnel security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ISO 9001, AS9100, or other quality management systems
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and supplier quality programs
• Familiarity with SolidWorks and mechanical drawings
• Experience performing first article inspections and managing nonconforming material
• IPC certification or experience applying IPC workmanship standards
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or other high‑reliability hardware products

Within 1 month, you’ll:

• Complete onboarding and become familiar with LeoLabs' products, manufacturing processes, and quality systems
• Learn our current production workflows, suppliers, and inspection requirements
• Begin supporting hardware inspections and ongoing quality initiatives

Within 3 months, you’ll:

• Take ownership of quality activities for active hardware builds
• Lead investigations into manufacturing and supplier quality issues
• Begin implementing improvements to inspection processes and quality documentation

Within 6 months, you’ll:

• Establish meaningful quality metrics and reporting that drive engineering and manufacturing decisions
• Lead cross‑functional root cause investigations and corrective actions
• Strengthen supplier quality and manufacturing quality processes across multiple hardware programs

Within 12 months, you’ll:

• Become the technical leader for hardware quality across the Manufacturing Team
• Drive measurable improvements in product quality, manufacturing yield, and supplier performance
• Help establish scalable quality systems that support future hardware development and production

Compensation

Salary offers are based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, and location. The base salary range for this position $123,000 + bonus + stock options + benefits

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

We do not work with outside staffing agencies

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website