Staff Engineer, Quality Engineering

Supernal; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Supernal is seeking a Staff Engineer, Quality Engineering to lead the development and continuous improvement of our Quality Management System (QMS) across new product development and production readiness. You will translate FAA and aerospace requirements into practical processes, audits, and digital workflows while guiding cross‑functional teams in APQP, PPAP, and supplier quality activities.

You will mentor junior engineers, drive risk-based quality planning, and collaborate across Design,

Qualifications

• 10+ years in quality, manufacturing, or operations, preferably in aerospace.
• Experience implementing aviation QMS for aircraft manufacturers or certified operators.
• APQP, PPAP, MSA, control plans; experience with nonconformance/MRB and audits.
• Experience with FAA type/production certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead QMS development and continuous improvement across FAA/Nadcap aligned processes.
• Execute APQP for product development and production readiness.
• Define supplier quality, audits, corrective actions, and containment.
• Plan internal QMS and process audits; drive corrective actions to closure.
• Integrate QMS and SMS where appropriate.
• Lead design reviews and DFMA activities to improve producibility.

Skills

QMS development

APQP execution

PPAP process

MSA & SPC

Root cause analysis

8D problem solving

Audits & compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Quality metrics

Education

Bachelor's degree in quality/engineering

Tools

MES

ERP

PLM

QA software

Job description

What we do:

The Staff Engineer, Quality Engineering is a senior individual contributor responsible for collaboratively developing, implementing, executing, and continually improving Supernal's Quality Management System (QMS), while providing hands‑on quality engineering leadership across new product development, aircraft integration, supplier quality, manufacturing, and production readiness. The role translates FAA and aerospace quality requirements into practical processes, controls, metrics, audits, and digital workflows. Working cross‑functionally with Design, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Supply Chain, Safety, Materials & Process, Certification, Operations, and other teams, this position leads risk‑based quality planning and resolves complex product and process issues in support of type certification, production certification, and scalable aircraft production.

What you can do:

• Collaboratively develop, implement, maintain, and continually improve the QMS, including policies, manuals, procedures, work instructions, forms, records, and digital workflows aligned with applicable FAA requirements, AS9100, Nadcap, and company processes.
• Lead execution of aircraft- and program‑level Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) aligned with product‑development phases, including PFMEA, control plans, Measurement System Analysis, Statistical Process Control, and process‑capability studies.
• Define and deploy Quality Assurance and Supplier Quality processes for supplier control, qualification, performance monitoring, nonconformance, corrective action, inspection and test, equipment control, training, audit support, and continuous improvement.
• Plan and conduct internal QMS and process audits; support supplier, third‑party certification, and FAA quality‑system audits; drive findings, corrective actions, and effectiveness verification to closure.
• Integrate QMS and Safety Management System (SMS) processes where appropriate to improve consistency, risk visibility, and organizational effectiveness.
• Participate in design reviews, drawing reviews, release/change approvals, and design‑for‑manufacturing activities to improve robustness, producibility, inspectability, and configuration control, as necessary.
• Develop quality plans and inspection/control processes for prototype aircraft, new product introduction (NPI), production qualification, rate increase, and series production; support FAI, PPAP, and process validation activities.
• Lead production‑floor nonconformance control and facilitate Material Review Board activities; perform or lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action using 8D, 5 Whys, Red‑X, and other appropriate methods.
• Analyze quality, test, audit, supplier, and production data; establish baselines and trends; define KPIs; report QMS and product‑quality performance, risks, and improvement priorities to quality leadership.
• Evaluate and implement QMS, in addition to assisting implementation of MES, ERP, PLM, analytics, and related digital tools required to execute, control, and measure quality processes.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to junior Quality Engineers and cross‑functional teams; lead complex quality workstreams through influence without direct supervisory responsibility.
• Perform other duties as assigned and travel domestically or internationally up to 15%.

What you can contribute:

• Bachelor's degree in quality management, engineering, or related field preferred.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive quality, manufacturing, or operations experience, with significant experience in aerospace or another highly regulated product environment (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing aviation QMS processes for an aircraft manufacturer, production certificate holder, certificated operator, or comparable regulated organization.
• Demonstrated new product development (NPD) and production‑quality experience, including APQP and core quality tools, supplier quality, manufacturing controls, nonconformance/MRB, corrective action, audits, and production readiness.
• Experience supporting FAA type and/or production certification and working with AS9100‑aligned quality systems is strongly preferred.
• Working experience with core quality controls processes (Quality Manual, APQP, PPAP, MSA, Control Plan, FMEA and SPC)
• Experience with technical data review, ASME Y14 standards. Experience with model‑based design (MBD) is desired
• Experience with QA, MES, ERP and PLM systems
• Manufacturing background in aircraft or automotive assembly production environments is a plus
• Lean/Six Sigma (Green belt or higher) or recognized quality certification is a plus
• Working with international OEMs or suppliers is a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proactive delivery of communication and follow‑up
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to independently prioritize and accomplish work within time constraints
• Self‑motivated and forward‑thinking
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite