Quality Assurance Engineer

relativedynamics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Relative Dynamics is seeking a senior Quality Assurance professional to support space flight hardware QA at supplier sites and in-house. The role requires extensive experience with cleanroom processes, FRBs, and NASA standards, with periodic travel and potential evening/weekend shifts.

The QE will oversee inspections, document nonconformances, and collaborate with contractors, GSFC personnel, and program teams to ensure readiness for launch.

Qualifications

• Fifteen (15) + years in manufacturing, assembly and/or quality assurance of space flight hardware.
• Experience supporting critical path FRBs for NASA projects.
• Able to work long hours in cleanroom environments and stand for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Review processes including PCB quality, workmanship, coatings, soldering, ESD and cleanroom controls.
• Perform inspections such as pre-cap, 100% solder joints, conformal coatings, and final workmanship checks.
• Monitor quality controls, data capture, corrective actions, and nonconformance reporting.
• Support MRRs/TRRs, supplier quality management, and calibration traceability.
• Coordinate with contractors, GSFC staff, and program management on QA approvals.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Problem-Solving

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Diplomatic Sensitivity

Team Collaboration

Self-Starter

Risk Management

Education

Experience-based QA emphasis

Tools

MS Office

GSFC Database

Meta Knowledge Management

Remote Access

Job description

At Relative Dynamics we value knowledge as a process rather than knowledge as an answer. Founded in 2011 our goal is to define the new space era by continuously pushing the boundaries of engineering models services and technology development. Visit us at www.relativedynamics.space.

Relative Dynamics Inc. has an exciting opportunity for a Quality Assurance support primarily at supplier locations to perform quality surveillance activities and hardware quality assurance functions.

Periodic non-local travel is anticipated to accomplish delegated functions such as pre-cap inspections, technical or status interchange meetings (TIMs) or reviews, key supplier hardware inspections (government mandatory inspection points), project milestone reviews, and unplanned required travel as requested by the Quality Manager and/or CSO.

Work coverage may be required during evening and weekend shifts.

What You'll Get to Do:

The QE is responsible for reviewing processes such as:

• Printed Circuit Board quality assessment
• Workmanship including coatings
• Soldering
• ESD controls
• Clean room activities and controls
• Cable and harness fabrication
• Contamination control
• Parts and materials control
• Control of drawings and procedures
• Equipment moves (e.g. slings, cranes, and hydro sets)
• Hazardous operations
• Contractor responses to corrective action requests
• Build records, end-item data packages
• Delivery, storage and transport of flight and non-flight hardware, and critical ground support equipment (GSE)
• Support Spacecraft transportation planning
• Spacecraft readiness review(s); pre-ship to launch site
• Spacecraft transport to launch site monitor; purge, battery health and dynamics
• Launch site processing, Post-Ship Aliveness Testing, Anomaly Resolution, Site
• Movements, Spacecraft Fueling, GSE Compliance, Spacecraft to Launch
• Vehicle Adapter Final Torque verifications, Red/Green Tag verifications,
• Ordnance installations, Final Closeouts, Final Fairing Installation Inspections

The QE will ensure that flight hardware and software anomalies, corrective actions, and re-verifications are documented in accordance with the developers’ non-conformance and corrective action system. The QE will participate in production planning, when possible, review manufacturing flow plans and participate in Manufacturing and Test Readiness Reviews (MRRs and TRRs). The QE will monitor contractor quality and safety controls, and participate in quality assurance activities during fabrication, integration, and tests. The QE monitoring will apply to process implementations, product inspection during production, recording of key process data, witness of the set up (e.g. equipment check outs, safe connector mating, reconfiguring or moving mission hardware) and execution of key tests, supplier conformance with quality engineering and project management approval requirements (e.g., red-lines, approval to proceed, signing off on work orders), labs and personnel certifications, traceability of calibration certifications to calibration plans, capture of test results and instances of product or process nonconformance, protection of product, isolation and preservation of non-conforming items to assure effective root cause or failure analysis, and witnessing of close calls or mishap events.

The QE will perform inspections which may include:

• Pre-cap inspection of hybrid micro circuits and electronic boxes.
• 100% solder joints prior to conformal coating of each flight printed wiring assembly prior to conformal coating.
• 100% of conformal coatings on flight printed wiring assemblies.
• Final workmanship inspection prior to box level final closure prior to integration into the next level of assembly.
• Connector mates to mission hardware integrated into the spacecraft.
• General workmanship quality prior to final acceptance testing.
• General workmanship prior to shipment.
• Confirm shipping packaging conforms to requirements and is adequate.

What You'll Need:

• Fifteen (15) + years’ experience in manufacturing, assembly and/or quality assurance of space flight hardware.
• Experience working/supporting critical path FRB’s for a previous NASA project.
• Experience, and be able to perform for long hours, in a cleanroom environment and able to spend long periods of time standing in the cleanroom.
• Familiar with supplier quality management operations, requirements flow-down and compliance, and performance data accumulation and analysis tools and techniques.
• Familiar with ISO 9001 and AS9100.
• Experience preferably at NASA with direct working experience with the following standards and requirements:
• IPC J-STD-001ES/FS (Soldering, Space Addendum)
• NASA-STD-8739.1 (Staking and Conformal Coating)
• NASA-STD-8739.4 or IPC/WHMA-A-620xS (Crimping, Cables & Wiring) ANSI/ESD 20.20 (Electrostatic Discharge)
• NASA-STD-8739.6 (Workmanship Implementation Standard)

Required Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have good working knowledge of the full suite of Microsoft Office and the ability to remotely access GSFC database and other online knowledge management tools (e.g., Meta). They must possess diplomatic sensitivities relative to programmatic risk management and contractual relationships, strong verbal and written communication skills, and a technical problem-solving background with strong analytical skills. The QE must be able to work side-by-side with other mission assurance personnel (e.g., Prime Contractor, subcontractors, GSFC civil servants, GSFC contractors, DCMA). The assigned QE must have familiarity with the applicable Project MAR and the technical quality standards invoked therein.

What You Won't Do:

• Feel stuck as we offer great opportunities to advance and learn
• Feel like a number as we're a close-knit bunch and always have each other’s backs

Who You Are:

• A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment
• A quick learner who is always ready to gain depth of knowledge
• A reliable worker who knows the importance of showing up when it counts
• Accept assignments with open cooperative positive and team-oriented attitudes
• Able to plan and execute plans across teams
• Effective communicator both written and verbal

Relative Dynamics conducts a comprehensive background check that includes drug testing. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.