
Senior Quality Control Engineer
AeroVironment · San Diego, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $101k–$153k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 12+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 2 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at AeroVironment (aerospace & defense) in San Diego, CA.
- They ask for
- 12+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, DMAIC, SPC, FMEA
- Base pay
- $101k–$153k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 163 other live quality postings in California.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (12+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$149k, from 79 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 78%
- ✓ FMEA 56%
- Supplier quality 48%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 43%
- ✓ AS9100 41%
- ✓ PPAP 39%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at AeroVironment
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 on the team. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Renee → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: AeroVironment in San Diego
No other open roles at this site right now · 4 people we found on the quality team.
Full description from AeroVironmentAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
responsibilities
and Product Quality responsibilities, in addition to the general
responsibilities
outlined.
Position
Responsibilities
- ◆Develop and implement comprehensive quality assurance and quality control plans for CUAS components and systems.
- ◆Define quality metrics, testing methodologies, and inspection procedures to ensure adherence to quality standards throughout the product lifecycle.
- ◆Review manufacturing planning to align quality control points and data collection.
- ◆Coordinate work with Quality Technicians and inspectors as necessary.
- ◆Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust manufacturing processes and work instructions are in place, and that inspection and test gates (incoming, in-process, and final) are defined at the appropriate stages of the build process.
- ◆Perform process capabilities analysis on key characteristics; implementing Inspection and Quality Plans.
- ◆Ensure product acceptance criteria reflects the customer's definition of fitness for use.
- ◆Review customer contracts and purchase orders to identify
requirements
and flow down new customer
requirements
to all functions.
- ✓Correspond, as required, with customer representatives to ensure a thorough understanding of their needs and expectations.
- ✓Collaborate with engineering teams to establish quality requirements, specifications, and standards for new product development.
- ✓Provide input on design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) considerations to optimize product quality and efficiency.
- ✓Perform risk assessments and analysis on designs to identify potential quality and reliability risks and develop mitigation strategies to address them.
- ✓Utilize tools such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to systematically assess and prioritize design risks and develop appropriate risk mitigation plans.
- ✓Participate in Product Readiness Reviews (PRR) and coordinate Final Inspection activities.
- ✓Participate in the review of engineering specifications to ensure the inclusion of adequate quality and reliability requirements.
- ✓Lead Quality’s contribution to Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP). Perform PPAP's (production part approval process).
- ✓Provide guidance and assistance with quality enhancement strategies and the interpretation of workmanship criteria.
- ✓Conduct internal and supplier audit activities including but not limited to quality management systems, purchasing, contract review process, and manufacturing.
- ✓Drive trend improvements on the internal & external quality in support of strategic business objectives.
- ✓Document and track defects using designated Quality Management Systems, prioritize issues based on severity and impact, and collaborate with engineering teams to implement corrective actions.
- ✓Lead complex investigations into product and process nonconformances, field issues, and test escapes, applying advanced problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Ishikawa, DOE, regression analysis, fault tree analysis) to identify true root cause. Lead the Material Review Board (MRB) process for nonconforming product, ensuring timely review, risk assessment, and disposition (use‑as‑is, rework, repair, scrap) in accordance with quality standards and internal processes.
- ✓Responsible for driving corrective action and failure analysis in a timely manner.
- ✓Analyze quality data and perform statistical analysis to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Coordinate cross‑functional MRB meetings (Quality, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain) to drive data‑based disposition decisions and prevent recurrence of known defects.
Basic
(Required Skills & Experience )
- ✓Bachelor's degree in related discipline is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- ✓Minimum of 8 - 12 years of related experience.
- ✓Experience and a strong understanding of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC), FMEA, APQP, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Gage R&R Studies and lean manufacturing methodologies.
- ✓Demonstrated knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9102 standards and audits.
- ✓Knowledge of industry standards and regulations applicable to manufacturing (e.g., IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
- ✓Acts as a primary quality liaison between Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Business/Finance to ensure quality
requirements
are understood, planned, and executed across programs.
- ✓Knowledge of dimensional inspection measurement systems and their application for the inspection of complex products – a full understanding of ASME Y14.5 (GD&T). Expertise in mechanical inspection methods and skills.
- ✓Ability to collect, compile and analyze data (using the appropriate six sigma methods and techniques); to determine both the actual root causes of identified problems and required corrective (preventive) actions to prevent recurrence.
- ✓Able to affect internal and external DPPM (scrap and rework) reduction and OTD improvements both internally and at our suppliers.
- ✓Hands-on experience with quality testing equipment, measurement tools, and inspection techniques.
- ✓Experience with creating and documenting Dimensional data packs and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIs).
Other
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Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
The Senior Quality Control Engineer (QE) is accountable for the overall quality of products and/or services provided to customers and ensures quality controls are met. The QE engages program and product resources to identify and eliminate cost drivers, identify and eliminate flow disruptions and implement visual factory operational KPI metrics. The QE establishes effective Problem Reporting and CAPA systems for Containment, Correction & Prevention Actions and Documentation of non-conformances. The Quality Engineer will have both Customer Quality
& Desired Competencie s
- +Demonstrates initiative to work efficiently and to streamline processes. Normally receives
