Staff Quality Engineer (QMS)

Location: Brea, California, United States

Department: Engineering

Workplace: hybrid

Employment Type: full

Description

Job Summary:

The Staff Quality Engineer operates at a system and enterprise level, driving quality performance across the value chain by defining, standardizing, and continuously improving processes that enable consistent execution and scalable production. This role establishes how customer, regulatory, and operational requirements are translated into a cohesive and effective quality system across programs and sites.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Diagnose and improve QMS effectiveness by identifying breakdowns in CAPA, audit outcomes, process adherence, and escape trends, and driving systemic corrective actions
• Define and drive quality system strategy across the value chain, including supply chain, production, and customer/field performance
• Establish how requirements are translated into standardized, scalable processes across programs and sites
• Ensure quality systems enable consistent execution, production scalability, and operational efficiency
• Identify systemic gaps between documented processes and actual execution across the value chain and drive enterprise-level alignment
• Lead system-level improvements in CAPA effectiveness, process standardization, and quality system integration
• Define and standardize core quality processes and cross-functional interfaces
• Reduce variation through standard work, process simplification, and lean principles
• Ensure QMS processes are practical and embedded in daily operations, eliminating non-value-added complexity and preventing “check-the-box” compliance
• Integrate customer, regulatory, and internal requirements into cohesive processes
• Define frameworks for consistent interpretation and application of requirements across the organization
• Identify and resolve systemic gaps between requirements, processes, and execution
• Lead alignment and positioning for external audits (AS9100, customer, regulatory), ensuring the QMS is both compliant and operationally effective
• Lead and influence alignment across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality
• Drive adoption of standardized processes across teams, programs, and sites
• Communicate complex system-level concepts clearly to both technical teams and senior leadership
• Represent the organization with customers and regulatory bodies in audits, assessments, and strategic quality discussions
• Ensure consistent positioning and execution of quality systems and compliance approaches
• Drive scalability from development through full-rate production and across multi-site operations
• Identify organizational capability gaps and influence development of processes and
• Mentor engineers and leaders to strengthen system thinking, execution discipline, and quality ownership

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 9+ years of experience in aerospace or regulated manufacturing environments
• Deep expertise in:
• Quality systems and process design
• Regulatory and customer requirements (AS9100, FAA, EASA)
• APQP and industrialization at scale
• Demonstrated ability to:
• Define and implement enterprise-level quality processes and systems
• Translate complex requirements into scalable standards and execution models
• Lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact
• Influence across functions and leadership levels without direct authority
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership, customers, and regulators
• Demonstrated experience improving or rebuilding elements of a Quality Management System (e.g., CAPA effectiveness, audit performance, process adherence)         
• Direct experience supporting or leading AS9100 audits with a focus on system effectiveness
• Proven ability to translate quality system requirements into practical, executable processes within a production environment   
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and execution skills

Benefits

The starting pay range for this position is $112,100 - $140,000 per year however, base pay offered may vary depending on the level of the position, skills, experience, job-related knowledge, and location.

In addition to a comprehensive package of health benefits that include company contributions, RAVE Aerospace offers a variety of additional benefits and perks to enhance your work-life balance experience including but not limited to:

• Discretionary bonus program
• Future financial security with a 401(k) program with company match
• Paid time off covering vacations, personal time off and sick days, capped off by an exciting year-end holiday shutdown
• Embraced flexibility with our alternative work schedule (9/80) to navigate your workweeks with every other Friday off