Principal Software Quality Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer (PMTS) to ensure products meet the highest quality standards.

You will review project documents, lead root-cause analysis, and guide cross-functional teams to improve processes and product integrity throughout development and manufacturing stages. Applicants should have a Bachelor of Science in engineering and 7–10 years of experience in quality engineering or related fields, with strong knowledge

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in an Engineering discipline required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to customers, suppliers, and employees to resolve issues.
• Lead root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to improve product quality.
• Analyze data to identify trends and prevent recurrence of defects.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and oversee quality activities.
• Support Agile/Scrum processes within software development life cycle.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Lean Six Sigma

Quality standards

Process integration

Time management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Technical mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

GitLab pipelines

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

A Principal Quality Engineer (PMTS) ensures that products meet the highest quality standards. Responsible for investigating and resolving issues. Reviews Statements of Work (SOW), Request for Proposals (RFP), design plans, process procedures, test procedures, and manuals, to understand the scope, requirements, and function of products.

Job Description

Duties/Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and support to customers, suppliers, and employees in resolving issues.
• Assist in the improvement of manufacturing, process, and product efficiency to reduce nonconforming products.
• Ensures products meet the organizations and customers quality and product integrity requirements.
• Supports product development or operations team by providing analysis and expertise throughout the inspection process.
• Leads a cross function team in the determination of root cause of failures. Identifies when failure analysis is necessary, along with providing recommendations of the corrective measures.
• Analyzes data to identify trends in product quality or defects with the goal of mitigating and preventing recurrence and future defects.
• Subject Matter Expert in quality standards and principles, knowledgeable and experienced in multiple technical disciplines.
• Ability to independently assess customer needs and evaluate solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to lead quality teams, providing technical oversight and mentoring less experienced engineers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work on cross functional teams.
• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles.
• Familiarity with Quality Standards ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100.
• Expert knowledge and skills in process integration.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills to communicate clearly.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Education

Requires a bachelor of Science degree in an Engineering discipline.

Experience

Requires 7-10 years experience in quality engineering or other engineering role.

Additional Job Description

• Optimize productivity by designing, implementing and testing new procedures.
• Design low-risk experiments to prove/disprove improvements.
• Create proposals for rolling out process improvements accounting for scope, cost, schedule, risk, metrics.
• Recommend innovative, compliant solutions to meet business needs.
• Drive improvements to Draper’s software development process, including best practices.
• Lead Agile/Scrum activities to deliver high quality, compliant software.
• Provide mission assurance by mitigating risks and enhancing opportunities and ensuring compliance throughout the software development life cycle.

Required Qualifications

• Familiarity with tools common to automation, quality tools, testing frameworks.
• 5+ years of work experience.
• 2+ years of experience in programming languages such as C, C++, Java, RUST, Matlab, Python in Windows, LINUX, or Solaris environments.
• Experience with CI/CD systems like GitLab pipelines.
• Ability to anticipate problems and take appropriate actions, prioritize, multitask, work independently and as a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of government/industry standards, such as MIL-Spec, AS9100, ISO 9001, DO-178C.
• Strong troubleshooting and reasoning skills; ability to debug and resolve difficult technical problems.
• Experience with software Cybersecurity principles and tools.
• Experience with Agile, SCRUM (SCRUM Master ideal).
• Experience in a wide breadth of software development activities.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location

City: Cambridge
State: Massachusetts
Postal Code: 02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000.00 - $245,000.00. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

We are in the business of redefining what is possible. Join our inclusive, multidisciplinary team to engineer the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow.

Explore life at Draper with our unique culture and benefits at draper.com.