Quality Engineer - Aviation

Viasat; Duluth (GA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat in Duluth, GA is seeking an Aerospace Quality Engineer to partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and company quality requirements throughout the lifecycle.

You will lead root cause investigations, develop quality processes, monitor FPY and defect trends, and support audits and MRB activities to continuously improve product quality and reliability.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in quality, operations, or engineering in development/manufacturing
• 7+ years auditing suppliers and supporting new production introduction
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field or equivalent experience
• 3+ years leading teams, programs or projects
• Strong knowledge of AS9100, AS9102B, 9001 QMS or maintenance
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and procedures
• Experience with PLM/ERP systems and data analysis
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma tools and quality methods
• Willingness to travel up to 20% (domestic/international)
• Located within 50-mile radius of Duluth, GA

Responsibilities

• Provide Quality Engineering support from development through production and delivery
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes compliant with AS9100 and customer requirements
• Monitor FPY, nonconformances, defect trends, and customer quality performance
• Lead cross-functional root cause investigations using 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone methods
• Review nonconforming material and drive timely resolutions
• Identify process improvements to enhance quality, efficiency and reliability
• Support audits from customers, regulatory bodies and third parties
• Participate in design reviews, PFMEA, and new product introductions
• Review manufacturing plans and inspection documentation
• Develop inspection plans and quality procedures
• Support FAI activities per AS9102
• Analyze quality data and communicate trends to management
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce defects and improve process capability
• Support MRB, CARs, RCCA investigations
• Advocate for quality to ensure product integrity and customer satisfaction

Skills

AS9100 knowledge

Auditing suppliers

Root cause analysis

Quality engineering

Data analysis

Reading drawings/procedures

Leadership

Communication

Travel willingness

LRP/ERP awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Equivalent experience

Tools

Agile PLM

Oracle ERP

FMEA tools

AS9102 standards

Job description

About us

One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we're on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We're looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.

What you'll do

As an Aerospace Quality Engineer, you will partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams to ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and company quality requirements throughout the product lifecycle. Responsibilities for this role include:

• Providing Quality Engineering support for aerospace and aviation programs from development through production and delivery.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes that ensure compliance with AS9100, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Monitor and analyze key quality metrics, including First Pass Yield (FPY), nonconformance rates, defect trends, and customer quality performance.
• Lead cross-functional root cause investigations and corrective action activities using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5-Why, and Fishbone Analysis.
• Review and disposition nonconforming material and work closely with cross-functional teams to drive timely resolution of quality issues.
• Support production and test operations by identifying process improvement opportunities that enhance product quality, efficiency, and reliability.
• Conduct process audits and support customer, regulatory, and third-party quality audits.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, PFMEA activities, and new product introduction efforts to ensure quality requirements are integrated early in the product lifecycle.
• Review manufacturing plans, work instructions, and inspection documentation.
• Develop inspection plans and Quality procedures.
• Support First Article Inspection (FAI) activities in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Analyze quality data and generate reports to communicate trends, risks, and improvement opportunities to management and program teams.
• Collaborate with suppliers, when required, to resolve quality issues and improve supplier performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects, improving process capability, and increasing overall product reliability.
• Support Material Review Board (MRB) activities, Corrective Action Requests (CARs), and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.
• Serve as a quality advocate, helping ensure the highest levels of product integrity, customer satisfaction, and mission success.

The day-to-day

• Provide mentorship to program management, engineering, and operations on quality planning and execution to fulfill the overall quality mission.

• Be accountable for the planning and execution of quality activities by the quality team members.

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes that ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and AS9100 requirements.

• Monitor and analyze quality performance metrics, including FPY, yield, defect rates, and customer returns.

• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities for quality issues.

• Conduct process audits and support external customer and certification audits.

• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering to improve product quality and process capability.

• Review production data and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

• Support quality activities, including qualification, audits, and corrective actions.

• Ensure First Article Inspections and production validation activities are completed in accordance with customer requirements.

• Generate and present quality reports to management and customers.

What you'll need

• 10+ years’ experience in quality, operations, and/or engineering in a development and manufacturing environment

• 7+ years auditing suppliers and supporting new production introduction

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Applied Sciences, or a related field or equivalent experience

• 3+ years leading teams, program or projects

• Excellent knowledge of AS9100, AS9102B, 9001 QMS or maintenance

• Knowledge of theory and principles of data analysis

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, read procedures and process guidelines, record and interpret data

• PLM tool knowledge, (such as Agile), as well as ERP systems, (such as Oracle)

• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma tools, Failure Modes Effects Analysis, (FMEA), 8D, 5 Why, etc.) and other failure analysis quality tools

• Must have ambition (the aim to learn and achieve personal advancement)

• Must display autonomy (ability to work independently with minimal direction)

• Demonstrate technical aptitude (ability to comprehend sophisticated technical topics and niche information)

• Ability to communicate and influence different stakeholders, both internally and externally

• Up to 20% travel (domestic and international)

• Be located within a 50-mile radius of Duluth, GA

• US Citizenship required

What will help you on the job

• Hands-on manufacturing background in electro-mechanical assemblies

• Space/Flight hardware development and manufacturing experience

• Lead AS9001D auditor trained

• Detailed understanding of AS9102 and First Article Verification Process

• Understanding of IPC 610, IPC-620S, J-STD-001S, MIL-STD-883

Salary range

$82,000.00 - $129,500.00 / annually.For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $102,000.00- $153,000.00/ annually

At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasats comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.

EEO Statement

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.