Staff Engineer, Quality Engineering

Supernal, LLC; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Supernal, LLC seeks a Staff Engineer, Quality Engineering to lead and advance the company’s Quality Management System for aerospace R&D, aircraft integration, supplier quality, and production readiness. You will translate FAA requirements into practical processes, controls, metrics, audits, and digital workflows while collaborating with Design, Manufacturing, and Certification teams.

The role requires hands-on quality leadership across APQP, PPAP, MSA, SPC, and MRB, with a focus on risk-based

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in quality management, engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive quality, manufacturing, or operations experience in aerospace or regulated environments.
• Experience developing aviation QMS processes for aircraft manufacturers or certificated operators.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, MSA, SPC, and supplier quality processes.
• Experience with FAA type and/or production certification is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with AS9100-aligned quality systems and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in data analysis, audits, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with MES, ERP, and PLM systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the QMS in alignment with FAA, AS9100, Nadcap, and company processes.
• Lead APQP activities, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC, and process capability studies.
• Define and deploy QA and supplier quality processes for qualification, monitoring, corrective action, and inspection/test.
• Plan and conduct internal QMS/process audits and support external audits and certifications.
• Integrate QMS with Safety Management System (SMS) to improve risk visibility.
• Participate in design reviews and DFM activities to improve robustness and producibility.
• Develop quality plans for prototype, NPI, and production readiness; support PPAP and process validation.
• Lead nonconformance management and MRB activities; drive RCAs and corrective actions.

Skills

Quality engineering leadership

APQP

FMEA

Control plans

MRB / nonconformance

AS9100

Audits

MBD (Model-based design)

ERP / MES / PLM

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in quality management or engineering

Tools

MS Office

QMS software

Job description

Rise above. Are you ready to take human possibility to a new dimension with us?

Supernal is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company that’s developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle and the ground-to-air ecosystem to support the emerging industry. By creating a sustainable, integrated, and human-centered ecosystem, we are committed to taking a thoughtful and responsible approach to entering the AAM market with a product that meets the high level of safety and reliability in today’s air transportation system.

The future of mobility starts with people. We believe in creative thinking and collaboration to help build a better mobility experience for everyone, improving people’s ability to move – whether for work or play. Join our dynamic team as we strive to be a part of something greater where potential powers tomorrow!

Supernal provides an inviting open-space workplace designed to foster collaboration, which aligns with one of our core values. This position is required to work on-site 5 days a week.

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

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other category or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at: [e-mail] (opens in new window)

This position may include access to certain technology and/or software source code subject to U.S. export controls laws and regulations. If an export authorization from an applicable US regulatory agency is required in connection with your employment, your employment is contingent upon Supernal’s receipt of such regulatory authorization(s) and your continued compliance with all conditions and limitations pursuant to such authorization(s).