Principal Quality Engineer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc.; Germantown (MD); Hybrid; USD 121,230 - 154,905; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan

Medical insurance

Generous 401(k) program

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid leave

9/80 Work Schedule

Job summary

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer in Germantown, MD. This role involves leading Quality Engineering activities, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring compliance with standards, such as AS9100. A bachelor's degree in Engineering and 8+ years of relevant experience are necessary.

The position offers a competitive salary of $121,230 - $154,905 and other benefits including a hybrid work schedule, medical insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of Quality Engineering experience required.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and meet security investigation requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products and Minitab.

Responsibilities

• Leads Quality Engineering activities throughout the product life cycle.
• Initiates and drives internal Corrective Actions Requests.
• Supports Program Quality Assurance activities for production programs.

Skills

Quality Engineering experience

Proficient in ASME/ANSI Y14.5

Knowledge of electro-mechanical assemblies

Excellent communication skills

Proficiency in ERP systems

Education

BS in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Minitab

SAP

CostPoint

Job description

Principal Quality Engineer

Location: Germantown, MD 20876

Division: TDSI – Digital Receiver Technology (DRT)

Top Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program – up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
• Hybrid working schedule

Responsibilities

• Supports the TDSI AS9100 Quality Management System (QMS).
• Leads Quality Engineering activities throughout the product life cycle, including contract review, requirements management, design reviews, verification/validation, and release to production.
• Initiates and drives internal Corrective Actions Requests (CARs) as required.
• Assists Supply Chain Quality Assurance with supplier approvals/audits, source inspections of hardware/software, and supports Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) processes.
• Provides interface between Purchasing, Engineering, Program Management, and Manufacturing during transition of new products from design to production.
• Supports Program Quality Assurance activities for production programs, including First Article Inspections (FAI), Material Review Board (MRB), Change Control Board (CCB), Failure Review Board (FRB), and work product review and approval.
• Manages high‑priority tasks of multiple projects simultaneously in development.
• Develops inspection plans and processes for receiving and final inspection activities.
• Determines process capability (Cpk) and defect trends based on statistical analysis.
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required; applicants may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• BS in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or equivalent technical degree or experience.
• 8+ years of Quality Engineering experience.
• Proficient in ASME/ANSI Y14.5 and able to read mechanical drawings.
• Knowledge of electro‑mechanical assemblies, IPC standards, schematics, and RF test equipment.
• Knowledgeable in software quality assurance, automated MRP systems, and cause/corrective action systems.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Proficiency in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Proficiency in requirements and configuration management tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Proficiency in Minitab.
• Efficiency in SAP and/or CostPoint preferred.
• AS9100/CMMI experience an plus.
• Ability to travel up to 10% domestically.
• Ability to follow and comply with all company policies, procedures, and guidelines, including the Compliance Policy Manual and the Code of Ethics.

Compensation

Annualized pay range: $121,230 – $154,905 USD. Target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 5%.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].

EEO Statement

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non‑discrimination as applicable under federal, state, and local laws. We are an E‑Verify Employer.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 240‑864‑7000.