Lead, Quality Engineer- Automation

L3Harris; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris is seeking an experienced Automation Quality Engineer to lead quality activities for automated manufacturing expansion and ramp-up across the Propulsion Systems sector. You will partner across Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and site teams to ensure robust, controlled automated processes ready for production.

The role emphasizes data-driven process improvement, advancing process capability, and ensuring compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience; or a Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years; or in lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years.
• 4 or more years of experience in automated manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Support automation capacity expansion, industrialization, production ramp-up and manufacturing transitions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Quality to ensure automated processes are capable and ready.
• Analyze process capability, stability, and failure modes using data-driven methods.
• Develop and implement process controls, error-proofing, and improvement actions.
• Apply and sustain SPC and other quality tools to maintain performance and reduce variation.
• Support APQP, PFMEA, control plans, verification/validation, and production readiness for new or modified processes.

Skills

Automation QA

Data-driven

Cross-functional

Quality systems

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate Degree

Tools

PLC

Robotics

Machine vision

Automation systems

Power BI

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Lead, Quality Engineering – Automation

Job Code: 43754

Job Location: Camden, AR (Preferred) or Huntsville, AL, or Orange, VA

Job Schedule: Varies by location

Job Description:

The Missile Solutions Segment of L3Harris Technologies is seeking an experienced Automation Quality Engineer to support industrial expansion readiness and strategic growth initiatives across the Propulsion Systems sector. This role will focus on automation-related quality engineering in support of capacity expansion, production ramp-up, manufacturing transitions, and advanced manufacturing implementation.

This position serves as a key interface between Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and site teams to ensure automated manufacturing processes are capable, controlled, and ready to support new and expanded operations. The role emphasizes improving process performance, reducing variation, and strengthening process controls to ensure quality is built into automated production systems.

The ideal candidate brings experience developing automated manufacturing environments, applying data-driven process improvement methods, and partnering across functions to improve process capability and readiness. This role requires strong quality engineering knowledge, manufacturing process understanding, and the ability to support cross-site and cross-program initiatives in a fast-paced defense manufacturing environment.

Essential Functions:

• Support quality activities for automation-related capacity expansion, industrialization, production ramp-up, and manufacturing transitions across the Propulsion Systems sector.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Quality teams to ensure automated processes are capable, controlled, and ready for production.
• Analyze process capability, stability, and failure modes using data-driven methods to improve process performance and robustness.
• Develop and implement process controls, error-proofing, and improvement actions for automated manufacturing processes.
• Apply and sustain SPC and other quality tools to maintain process performance and reduce variation.
• Support APQP activities, PFMEA development, control plans, verification/validation, and production readiness efforts for new or modified automated processes.
• Identify gaps in process capability, control, and reliability, and coordinate actions to address them.
• Support quality documentation, configuration control, and First Article Inspection (FAI) execution for new or modified automated processes and equipment.
• Partner with operators, engineers, and supervisors to improve process understanding, discipline, and ownership.
• Provide automation process quality expertise to continuous improvement and cross-functional project teams.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, internal quality management system requirements, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Up to 25% business travel required
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience; or a Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience; or in lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• 4 or more years of experience in automated manufacturing environments.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience in automated manufacturing and inspection environments, preferably defense, aerospace, automotive, or similar industries.
• Expertise in AI-assisted or otherwise automated inspection and defect detection systems.
• Experience with automated manufacturing systems, such as PLC-controlled equipment, robotics, machine vision, automated assembly, or test systems.
• Capable of working independently and dynamically with minimum oversight with multiple and/or changing priorities.
• Demonstrated success supporting new product introduction or manufacturing scale-up efforts.
• Familiarity with APQP and manufacturing risk management.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma and LEAN manufacturing principles.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI.
• In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Virginia is $101,500 - $188,500 This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug‑free workplace and performs pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

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