Quality Engineer - Aerospace & Defense

Machina Labs; California; On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Stock options

Job summary

Machina Labs is seeking a Quality Engineer to uphold AS9100D quality across aerospace hardware and manufacturing. The role works with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain to detect defects, drive corrective actions, and improve processes on the factory floor.

The successful candidate will read engineering drawings, perform inspections (FAI, in-process, final), and apply quality tools to reduce defects while ensuring traceability and compliance with ITAR requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related aerospace quality experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering or Manufacturing Quality role, including aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment supporting production operations.
• Strong understanding of quality methodologies including Root Cause Analysis, CAPA, FMEA, SPC, MSA, and AS9102 First Article Inspection.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret GD&T.
• Experience with inspection equipment and measurement techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment.
• Must meet U.S. export control (ITAR) requirements.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain leaders to implement and strengthen processes within the AS9100D Quality Management System, including: creating a Supplier Feedback process (via SCAR), Engineering Feedback process (via ECM), Incoming inspection process, MRB process.
• Support daily manufacturing operations by identifying, investigating, and resolving quality issues.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to improve product quality, manufacturability, and process capability.
• Review customer engineering drawings, specifications, purchase order quality clauses, and manufacturing documentation to ensure requirements are correctly flowed down and met.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality procedures, inspection plans, and work instructions.
• Perform and approve AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, and final product verification.
• Analyze quality data and trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and support the disposition of nonconforming material.
• Support control of special processes (welding, heat treat, chemical processing, NDT), including supplier Nadcap accreditation status and customer process approvals.
• Maintain counterfeit part prevention and foreign object damage (FOD) controls, and support material and process traceability requirements.
• Identify and control key characteristics, and support production process verification for new and recurring work.
• Support internal audits to AS9100D and support customer, prime contractor, registrar, and government source inspection activities.
• Support supplier quality initiatives, including supplier evaluations, corrective actions, and oversight of outsourced special processes and machining.
• Utilize quality tools such as FMEA, SPC, MSA, and 8D problem solving to improve manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain to reduce defects, improve yields, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

CAPA

FMEA

SPC

MSA

AS9102 FAI

GD&T

Inspection tools

Analytical thinking

Communication

Fast-paced environment

ITAR compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial Quality Engineering or related

Equivalent education + aerospace quality experience

Tools

ERP systems

eQMS

Job description

About Machina Labs

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturingdoesn't. Yet.

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years.

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA,we'rebuilding the manufacturing infrastructurethat defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on.

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place.

Job Description

The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring products and manufacturing processes consistently meet Machina Labs' quality standards, customer requirements, and the requirements of our AS9100D Quality Management System. This role supports flight‑critical aerospace and defense hardware, and works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, and Supply Chain to identify quality issues, implement corrective actions, improve manufacturing processes, and build a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a hands‑on role that combines quality engineering, problem solving, process improvement, and collaboration across multiple teams. The ideal candidate is comfortable spending time on the manufacturing floor, enjoys investigating root causes, and understands what it takes to deliver conforming hardware to aerospace primes and government customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain leaders to implement and strengthen processes within the AS9100D Quality Management System, including:
• creating a Supplier Feedback process (via SCAR),
• Engineering Feedback process (via ECM);
• Incoming inspection process
• MRB process
• Support daily manufacturing operations byidentifying, investigating, and resolving quality issues.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to improve product quality, manufacturability, and process capability.
• Review customer engineering drawings, specifications, purchase order quality clauses, and manufacturing documentation to ensure requirements are correctly flowed down and met.
• Develop,maintain, and improve quality procedures, inspection plans, and work instructions.
• Perform and approve AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, and final product verification.
• Analyze quality data and trends toidentifyopportunities for continuous improvement.
• Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and support the disposition of nonconforming material.
• Support control of special processes (welding, heat treat, chemical processing, NDT), including supplier Nadcap accreditation status and customer process approvals.
• Maintain counterfeit part prevention and foreign object damage (FOD) controls, and support material and process traceability requirements.
• Identify and control key characteristics, and support production process verification for new and recurring work.
• Support internal audits to AS9100D and support customer, prime contractor, registrar, and government source inspection activities.
• Support supplier quality initiatives, including supplier evaluations, corrective actions, and oversight of outsourced special processes and machining.
• Utilize quality tools such as FMEA, SPC, MSA, and 8D problem solving to improve manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain to reduce defects, improve yields, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

*This job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilitiesrequiredfor this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

Required Background & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related aerospace quality experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering or Manufacturing Quality role, including aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment supporting production operations.
• Strong understanding of quality methodologies including Root Cause Analysis, CAPA, FMEA, SPC, MSA, and AS9102 First Article Inspection.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and interpret GD&T.
• Experience with inspection equipment and measurement techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, hands‑on manufacturing environment.
• Must meet U.S. export control (ITAR) requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within an AS9100 or ISO 9001 Quality Management System, including internal auditing.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and process development.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or other quality certification.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Experience with ERP and electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS).
• Experience supporting robotics, automation, sheet metal fabrication, welding, machining, or advanced manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting Nadcap special process audits or accredited suppliers.
• Experience with aerospace prime contractor requirements and purchase order quality clause flowdown.
• Familiarity with DFARS, CMMC, or other federal contract compliance requirements.

$105,000 - $130,000 a year

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location.

In addition to the provided base salary range, comprehensive benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), PTO, and Stock Options.

Machina Labs is an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law.

We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.