Lead Composites Quality Engineer

Role details

What We're Looking For

• Ability to work onsite at our El Segundo, CA facility.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Polymer Science, Composites Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites manufacturing, with significant expertise in quality engineering, quality management, and manufacturing process development.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and leading Quality Management Systems (QMS), including successfully achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications.
• Deep expertise in composite manufacturing processes, quality assurance methodologies, and defect prevention across production environments.
• Extensive experience with non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for composite materials, including CT, ultrasonic inspection (UT), tap testing, and other advanced inspection methods.
• Demonstrated success leading non-conformance management, Material Review Board (MRB) activities, and root cause investigations involving composite defects such as delamination, porosity, fiber/resin imbalance, voids, and other composite failure modes, driving effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Experience developing and scaling quality systems within rapidly growing manufacturing organizations while maintaining operational excellence.
• Proven ability to establish supplier quality programs, qualify suppliers, conduct supplier audits, and drive continuous supplier performance improvements.
• Strong working knowledge of PLM, ERP, MES, and quality management software systems.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management to improve product quality and manufacturing performance.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with evolving priorities and aggressive development schedules.
• Demonstrated ability to assess technical risk, make data-driven decisions, and balance quality, schedule, and business objectives.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a history of implementing creative, practical solutions to complex manufacturing challenges.
• Strong project management experience, including ownership of major quality initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels.
• Hands-on engineering mindset with the willingness and ability to work directly on the manufacturing floor and safely operate production equipment, including forklifts, presses, ovens, and other manufacturing machinery as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• Experience with aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Strong understanding of polymer and resin chemistry, including operation and interpretation of DSC, TGA, DMA, and related analytical equipment.
• Experience with advanced metrology systems, including CMMs, laser scanners, structured light scanning, and dimensional inspection methodologies.
• Expertise in advanced composite manufacturing processes such as compression molding, injection molding, RTM, autoclave processing, automated fiber placement (AFP), or continuous fiber layup.
• Experience defining customer quality requirements and serving as the primary quality interface with customers and regulatory agencies.
• Previous experience building, mentoring, and leading high-performing quality engineering teams.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), technology development, and R&D programs through qualification and process validation.
• Proficiency with CAD, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Experience developing quality metrics, executive dashboards, and presenting strategic business cases, quality performance, and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
• Experience supporting first article inspections (FAI), PPAP/APQP methodologies, process validation, and production readiness reviews.