Program Quality Engineer
BAE Systems · Fort Wayne, IN
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $109k–$185k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at BAE Systems (aerospace & defense) in Fort Wayne, IN. As part of our Controls & Avionics Solutions Quality Organization, you’ll join a diverse group of driven professionals who design the products and systems that support enhanced military capabilities, protect national security, and keep critical information.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Value stream mapping, Root cause, SPC, FMEA, PPAP, APQP
- Base pay
- $109k–$185k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 39 other live quality postings in Indiana.
- Base pay
- About 45% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 6+)
Typical $90k–$112k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 6+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 70%
- ✓ SPC 53%
- ✓ FMEA 50%
- Control plans 50%
- New product launch 40%
- ✓ PPAP 40%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Value stream mapping, 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 BAE Systems
We found 5 people at this company and state: 5 on the team, plus 2 likely hiring managers. 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 Mark → (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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: BAE Systems in Fort Wayne
4 other open roles at this site · 5 people we found on the quality team.
- Manufacturing Engineer - Commercial Electronics · Manufacturing
- Industrial Engineer · Industrial
- Principal Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
- Facilities Engineer II · Reliability
Full description from BAE SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
are met at all levels of the value stream and will ensure the quality success of the program by coordinating quality resources (design, supplier, manufacturing), meeting customer satisfaction, and identifying, communicating, and dispositioning quality risks.
A Program Quality Engineer will typically fulfill the following
responsibilities
- ◆Program Quality Planning & Execution: Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive program quality plans (including estimates, schedules, resources, and budgets) aligned with customer & internal
requirements
with inputs from but not limited to design and supplier quality counterparts, coordinate necessary quality expertise, and collaborate with other functions on APQP planning.
- ✓Lifecycle Management: Support lifecycle management, phase gate, and program management reviews to ensure product quality, proactively identify issues, and serve as an active participant in program return to green efforts and transition to production activities.
- ✓Customer Advocacy and Liaison: Serve as the primary customer quality liaison by overseeing product sell off, hosting customer source inspections and audits, approving and submitting PPAP’s to the customer, and managing customer quality related issues and concerns.
- ✓Quality Requirement Management: Proactively integrate quality into the program lifecycle by influencing bids and ensuring
requirements
flow down to all levels (design, suppliers, factories) and validate
requirements
through make item PPV/FAI reviews and approvals.
- ✓Issue Management & Resolution: Lead nonconformance management by overseeing Material Alert investigations and chairing Material Review Boards, drive robust Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) processes, and minimize program/customer impact.
- ✓Risk & Opportunity Management: Identify and communicate quality risks, ensure robust mitigation strategies are in place, and leverage product issue data for DFMEA/PFMEA updates.
- ✓Supplier/Subcontract Support: Develop supplier quality clausing plans and review and approve subcontract management plans and statements of work.
- ✓Compliance & Audit Support: Ensure compliance with BAE programmatic processes and organize, support, and/or execute ISO 9001/AS9100/IATF16949 audits and CMMI assessments.
- ✓Performance Monitoring & Improvement: Ensure programs meet all quality performance
requirements
by managing and reporting key quality metrics and partner with programs and other functions to drive improvements in overall program and business performance.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
- ✓Bachelor’s degree and 6-10+ years of experience or 10-14+ years of related experience in lieu of degree
- ✓Knowledge of industry standards and regulations (e.g. AS9100/ISO 9001, AS9102, AS13100, AS9145, CMMI)
- ✓Experienced with root cause corrective action (RCCA), SPC, and advanced quality methodologies
- ✓Strong problem solving and risk management skills leveraged to ensure that solutions meet the needs of the business and warfighter
- ✓Familiarity with lifecycle management (LCM) process and project management
- ✓Customer skills including ability to develop solid, working customer relationships with credibility
- ✓Business acumen, leadership, and cross-functional influence
- ✓Clear and concise verbal and written communication
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
- ✓Bachelor of Science Degree
- ✓Master’s degree in engineering or an equivalent technical discipline
- ✓SQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- ✓ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
- ✓ASQ Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
- ✓Equivalent senior-level quality certifications considered
Pay Information
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems, Inc. BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Job Description What’s it like realizing your potential at an innovative company that takes on some of the world’s most important challenges? Rewarding. As part of our Controls & Avionics Solutions Quality Organization, you’ll join a diverse group of driven professionals who design the products and systems that support enhanced military capabilities, protect national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure. With us, you’ll be able to make an impact while you hone your skills and grow in your career.
BAE Systems is looking for a Program Quality Engineer to join our team in Ft Wayne, IN. The successful candidate will be a key program leadership member collaborating across functions and empowered to influence strategy and execution that ensures programs are executed with high quality. This position will ensure that customer, regulatory, and internal
