Quality Engineer

Victor Sierra Aviation; Baldwin City (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

McFarlane Aviation in Baldwin City, KS is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure each part leaving our facility meets FAA and customer specifications. You’ll work across production, inspection, and the QMS to root cause issues, implement permanent fixes, and partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to prevent recurrence.

You will lead inspections, First Article Inspections, and corrective actions, while training inspectors and operators on quality requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology or equivalent
• At least 3 years of quality engineering experience in manufacturing
• Ability to read drawings and specifications with working knowledge of GD&T
• Hands-on skill with micrometers, calipers, and pin and height gages
• Proven experience performing root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Solid understanding of FAA regulatory frameworks and QMS standards
• Strong Excel skills, including statistics, data analysis, and metric building
• Strong communicator with suppliers, customers, cross-functional teams, and leadership
• High sense of urgency in a fast-paced, high-mix environment

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve the Quality Management System procedures and QA manual; identify gaps and drive corrective actions
• Ensure regulatory and customer requirements, including FAA-PMA, are met and stay current
• Conduct internal QMS audits and support external audits
• Create inspection plans, sampling plans, and quality control instructions for manufacturing and inspection
• Lead First Article Inspections (FAI) and complete FAIRs to meet requirements
• Evaluate drawings and specs for quality and regulatory compliance; define inspection methods
• Lead investigations into nonconformances and drive corrective/preventive actions
• Develop supplier quality strategies and analyze quality data to identify improvement opportunities

Skills

Read drawings & GD&T

Root cause analysis

Excel and statistics

Strong communication

High urgency in fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology

Tools

Micrometers

Calipers

Height & Pin Gages

CMM (programming)

Job description

Company: McFarlane Aviation

Position Description: Quality Engineer

Location: Baldwin City, KS

Department: Quality

Reports to: Quality Manager

ABOUT VICTOR SIERRA AVIATION

Victor Sierra Aviation (VSA) — a TransDigm Group company — is the parent of McFarlane Aviation, McFarlane Alaska, Tempest Aero Group®, AV8, and Aviation Products Systems. We acquire and build businesses that lead in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution of exceptional aerospace products, with 450 employees across Kansas, North Carolina, Alaska, Washington, and Texas.

McFarlane Aviation

Based in Baldwin City, KS, McFarlane Aviation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of general aviation aircraft parts and accessories. We are committed to delivering high-quality, FAA-approved products and exceptional service to the aviation community.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As Quality Engineer, you’ll help make sure every part that leaves McFarlane Aviation meets the standards our customers and regulators expect. You’ll work hands-on across production, inspection, and our Quality Management System — digging into nonconformances to find true root cause, putting permanent fixes in place, and partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to prevent problems before they reach the customer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality System & Compliance

• Quality Management System: Maintain and improve the QMS and Quality Assurance Manual procedures, and evaluate the system for gaps and corrective action

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure products and processes meet customer, contractual, and FAA-PMA regulatory requirements, and stay current on evolving regulations and standards
• Internal Audits: Conduct internal QMS audits and support FAA, registrar, and customer audits

Inspection & Product Quality

• Inspection Planning: Create inspection plans, sampling plans, and quality control instructions for manufacturing, test, and inspection
• First Article Inspection: Lead First Article Inspection (FAI) and complete FAIRs to customer and regulatory requirements
• Technical Review: Evaluate drawings, specifications, designs, and procedures for quality and regulatory requirements
• Test & Inspection Methods: Translate drawings and specifications into practical inspection methods, and standardize inspection techniques using calibrated tools such as micrometers, height and pin gages, and CMM
• Leadership & Training: Lead and direct the work of others as needed, and train and coach inspectors and operators on inspection methods and quality requirements

Nonconformance & Corrective Action

• Investigations & MRB: Lead product failure investigations and take part in Material Review Board (MRB) decisions
• Root Cause & CAPA: Use structured root cause tools to find true root cause and drive corrective and preventive action to closure
• Audit Follow-Up: Review corrective actions and audit findings for adequacy and track recurring quality issues
• Customer Returns: Investigate customer complaints and returns, and drive containment and corrective action

Supplier Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Supplier Performance: Develop strategies to improve internal and supplier quality performance
• Data & Metrics: Analyze quality data and build metrics to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Process Controls: Support PFMEAs and control plans to prevent defects before they happen
• Cross-Functional Support: Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and customers to resolve quality issues and prevent recurrence

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least 3 years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to read drawings and specifications, with working knowledge of GD&T
• Hands-on skill with micrometers, calipers, and pin and height gages
• Proven experience performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions
• Solid understanding of FAA regulatory frameworks and QMS standards
• Strong Excel skills, including applying statistics, analyzing data, and building metrics
• Strong communicator with suppliers, customers, cross-functional teams, and leadership
• High sense of urgency in a fast-paced, high-mix environment

Preferred

• Experience with AS9100 and 14 CFR Part 21 (FAA-PMA) quality systems
• Experience in aviation or aerospace manufacturing environments
• Lean and continuous improvement experience, including leading improvement projects
• CMM experience, including programming
• Experience with PFMEA, control plans, and SPC
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Six Sigma Green Belt

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

You’re a hands-on quality engineer who’s as comfortable on the shop floor as you are in the data. You dig for true root cause rather than quick fixes, hold the line on requirements because you know what’s at stake when a part goes on an aircraft, and build the relationships that make quality everyone’s job.

WHY MCFARLANE AVIATION?

At McFarlane Aviation, you’re part of a team that takes pride in Making It Better. Whether you’re assembling parts or sharing ideas, you play a key role in keeping the skies safe. We believe in old-school customer service, doing the right thing, and building better parts through real teamwork and integrity.

We offer:

• A collaborative, hands-on culture where ideas take flight and your voice matters
• Competitive pay and benefits, on-the-job training, and room to grow
• A supportive crew of aviation pros who are passionate about what they do

McFarlane is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees – so we welcome applications from everyone, to celebrate a diverse mix of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to your application, in order that we can accommodate and support you in the recruitment process. If you want to work for a company where you are valued and respected, we’d love to hear from you.