Quality Engineer

CIS Secure; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Dental insurance

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Health Savings Account option

Flexible Spending

Paid Time Off

Holiday pay

Life and Disability Insurance

Job summary

CIS Secure seeks a Quality Engineer to lead quality programs across NPI, manufacturing, and supplier engagement at our Ashburn HQ. You will drive compliance with AS9100, AS9145, and AS9102, apply FMEA, PPAP, SPC, and Control Plans, and partner with engineering and operations to improve product quality.

Ideal candidates bring 6+ years in aerospace DoD QA, strong audit experience, and hands-on RCCA and 8D problem-solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Six years of QA experience in aerospace/DoD environment.
• Auditing and compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9145, AS9102 expected.
• Experience with Kaizen, Six Sigma, Fishbone Diagram, Poka-Yoke, RCCA.
• Authoring policies and procedures for ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9145, AS9102.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, Key Characteristics, DFMEA, PFMEA, and Control Plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality efforts across NPI, manufacturing, and supplier engagement.
• Conduct internal and external quality audits.
• Ensure QMS documentation complies with requirements.
• Support customer audits and resolve quality concerns.
• Flow down quality requirements to operations and suppliers.
• Lead FAI review and AS9102 compliance.

Skills

Quality auditing

Root cause analysis

Continuous improvement

8D problem solving

AS9100/AS9145 knowledge

APQP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics

Tools

AS9100

AS9145

AS9102

DFMEA

PPAP

Control Plans

Job description

Overview

At CIS Secure, we protect the nation's most critical missions by delivering secure, high-performance communications and networking solutions to defense and intelligence customers worldwide. We are seeking a Quality Engineer professional, reporting to the Director of Quality Assurance, who will play a pivotal role in ensuring our products meet the rigorous standards required for aerospace and DoD applications.

In this role, you will lead quality efforts across New Product Introduction, manufacturing, and supplier engagement, driving compliance with AS9100, AS9145, and AS9102 while strengthening process capability and reliability. You will serve as a trusted partner to engineering, operations, and customers, applying advanced quality tools to investigate issues, implement corrective actions, and continuously improve performance.

This position offers the opportunity to directly influence mission-critical product integrity while shaping scalable quality systems that support our continued growth. If you are passionate about precision, continuous improvement, and supporting national security through operational excellence, this role will put you at the center of meaningful impact.

Responsibilities

Quality Systems, Compliance & Auditing

• Conduct compliance checks to improve processes and drive actions resulting from Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Perform and support internal and external quality audits.
• Ensure project and process control documentation complies with contractual, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Author and maintain Quality Management System (QMS) documentation, including policies, procedures, inspection checklists, and work instructions.
• Serve as the quality representative during customer audits and support resolution of customer quality concerns.
• Flow down quality requirements to internal operations and external suppliers.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Product Quality Planning

• Lead Quality activities for New Product Introduction (NPI) in accordance with AS9145 Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure manufacturability (DFM), reliability, and quality requirements are achieved.
• Perform First Article Inspection (FAI) and review results for compliance with AS9102 requirements.
• Apply quality planning tools and methodologies such as FMEA, PPAP, SPC, and Control Plans.

Manufacturing Quality & Process Control

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality control procedures, including in-process inspections, to ensure stable and capable manufacturing processes.
• Assist Manufacturing Operations with special processes and ensure compliance with AS9100 special process requirements.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, BOMs, and work instructions to ensure product conformity.
• Oversee product testing, including AOI and functional testing, and validate inspection and test equipment (Gauge R&R).

Continuous Improvement, Root Cause & Problem Resolution

• Investigate quality issues and lead root cause analysis using structured methodologies such as 8D, 5 Whys, and Fishbone diagrams.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence and improve overall product and process quality.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using established quality tools and error-proofing techniques.

Tools, Methods & Technical Quality Expertise

• Utilize industry-standard quality tools and methodologies, including:
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA)

Operating Hours and Expectations

• This position anticipates mostly standard hours, with some variability based on surge requirements.
• This position is expected to perform work on-site at the Ashburn headquarter.

Travel

• Less than 10%

Qualifications

Clearance

• This position does not require an active security clearance at the time of application.
• Must be a U.S. Person and have the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineer or Mathematics discipline, required.

Certification(S)

• American Society for Quality (ASQ) certifications, desired.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of six (6) years of relevant quality assurance experience in the aerospace DoD environment.
• At least five (5) years experience auditing and maintaining compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9145, AS9102.
• At least five (5) years of experience in Quality Auditing and Continuous Improvement tools, including Kaizen, Six Sigma, Fishbone Diagram, and Poka-Yoke (Error Proofing) and Root Cause Corrective Action Analysis (RCCA).
• At least four (4) years authoring policy, process and procedure that is compliant to ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9145, AS9102.
• Experience with AS9145
• Experience with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP). Utilizing tools such as PPAP, Key Characteristics, DFMEA, PFMEA and/or Control Plans.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience working in a manufacturing organization utilizing IPC-610 And IPC-620.
• Experience participating or leading 8D RCCA's analysis and participating in MRB activities.
• Material Review Board experience.

Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Flexibility related to work hours as project demands arise.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary computer position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to use hands and fingers to type.
• Must be able to reach with hands and arms for using a computer.
• Occasionally required to move 5 -- 20 pounds.

Disclaimer: This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of an incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of an incumbent. An incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Benefits

What we offer

At CIS Secure and its associated companies, Intrepid Solutions and Services and Darkblade Systems, we believe in promoting fair and transparent pay practices. We are committed to disclosing the compensation range for transparency and to set clear expectations for all applicants for this posting. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base salary for the advertised job, promotion, or transfer opportunity. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. The actual salary offered may vary based on various factors including but not limited to relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, education, geographic location, as well as internal equity, and alignment to market data.

Job Type: Full-time (onsite)

Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) with company matching
• Dental insurance
• Medical insurance
• Health Savings Account option
• Flexible Spending
• Vision insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Ancillary offerings (Hospital Indemnity, Accident, Critical Illness, Pet Insurance)
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday pay

CIS Secure and its associated companies, Intrepid Solutions and Darkblade Systems, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.