Program Quality Engineer — Defense Systems

Leidos Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 73,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Sector Mission Assurance seeks a Program Quality Engineer to serve as the quality engineering focal point for assigned programs, driving conformance and customer satisfaction across manufacturing operations.

This hands-on role partners with program management, engineering, and supply chain to translate contract requirements into executable quality plans, own problem solving for nonconformances, and support AS9100/compliance and audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline and four (4) years of prior relevant experience; or master's degree with two (2) years of prior relevant experience.
• Four (4+) years of hands‑on quality engineering experience in a manufacturing and/or product‑based environment.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 / ISO 9001 requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T.
• Ability to review and provide quality inputs to aviation program manuals, forms, and records.
• Candidate must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
• Must be proficient in utilizing Microsoft Office products.
• Must have strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to program and customer stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the quality engineering point of contact for assigned programs, supporting problem identification, resolution, loss reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain program quality plans, inspection plans, and quality requirement flowdown from contracts to manufacturing and suppliers.
• Review contract quality requirements and identify the processes, tooling, and documentation needed to comply.
• Execute and disposition First Article Inspections (FAI/AS9102) and supplier part approvals.
• Develop and maintain quality metrics - process capability studies, control charts, and measurement system analysis - to monitor Quality Control system effectiveness.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and structured problem‑solving (8D, 5‑Why, fishbone) to identify effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Build and maintain statistical data collection and analysis to surface trends affecting product quality.
• Participate in Material Review Board activities and disposition nonconforming material.
• Provide day‑to‑day technical direction and inspection guidance to Quality Technicians and Inspectors on assigned programs.
• Interact with customers to identify quality improvement opportunities and close the feedback loop with manufacturing and development personnel.
• Initiate and execute quality improvement activities (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma) to raise product line performance.
• Report quality issues, trends, and losses to Quality Management and program leadership.
• Support internal and external quality audits, including AS9100 surveillance and customer audits.
• Collaborate with DCMA and other government and/or customer quality assurance organizations.
• Interface with supplier and customer quality representatives on quality issues and verify effective corrective action is implemented.
• Review and provide quality inputs to aviation program manuals, forms, and records.
• All other reasonable duties, as assigned.

Skills

Root cause analysis

AS9100 / ISO 9001

Problem solving

Communication

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline

Master's degree with 2 years relevant experience

Job description

Leidos Defense Sector Mission Assurance seeks a Program Quality Engineer to serve as the quality engineering focal point for assigned programs, driving conformance and customer satisfaction across manufacturing operations.

This hands-on role partners with program management, engineering, and supply chain to translate contract requirements into executable quality plans, own problem solving for nonconformances, and support AS9100/compliance and audits.