Specialist, Quality Engineer
L3Harris · San Diego, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $84k–$156k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 23 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at L3Harris (aerospace & defense) in San Diego, CA. Collect, analyze, and present quality data to leadership and customers.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, ISO 9001, AS9100, Supplier quality, SAP
- Base pay
- $84k–$156k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $100k–$153k. This one lists $84k–$156k.
Median of the low and high ends of 117 live postings that list pay, out of 227 quality engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 226 other live quality postings in California.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$149k, from 113 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 75%
- FMEA 49%
- ✓ Supplier quality 44%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 42%
- ✓ AS9100 41%
- ✓ ISO 9001 35%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for SAP, 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 L3Harris
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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: L3Harris in San Diego
3 other open roles at this site.
- Quality Technician C · Quality · Technician
- Engineering Technician C · Manufacturing
- Quality Engineering Manager · Quality · Manager
Specialist, Quality Engineer at L3Harris in other locations
L3Harris lists this title in 7 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from L3HarrisAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Essential Functions
- ◆Analyze reported nonconformities involving assembly, mechanical, electrical, and electro‑mechanical systems as well as field and clinical performance data.
- ◆Investigate root causes, determine dispositions, and recommend corrective and preventative actions.
- ◆Lead MRB (Material Review Board) and FRB (Failure Review Board) activities.
- ◆Partner closely with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and customers to ensure product and process
requirements
are consistently met.
- ✓Manage internal and external corrective actions and support overall program quality.
- ✓Serve as the main customer interface for quality issues and compliance matters.
- ✓Support method development for inspection, testing, configuration control, reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- ✓Review customer and supplier quality
requirements
to ensure proper flow‑down into purchase and sales orders.
- ✓Collect, analyze, and present quality data to leadership and customers.
- ✓Review ATPs (Acceptance Test Procedures) and ATDRs (Acceptance Test Data Records) and present completed packages to customers.
requirements
to ensure correct clauses are imposed per Purchase Order/Sale Orders.
- ✓Reviews and develops methods and procedures for in-process inspection, testing, configuration, reliability, and evaluation of standard programs.
requirements
for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for th
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.
L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Job Title: Specialist, Quality Engineer
Job Location: San Diego, CA
Job Schedule: ALT 9/80 (employee's work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off)
Job Description
We are seeking a highly motivated Quality Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will develop and implement quality standards, inspection methods, and test procedures that ensure the precision, reliability, and compliance of our products. You will play a key role in supporting production, driving root‑cause investigations, and serving as the primary point of contact for customers on quality‑related matters.
(one of the following)
- •Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience.
- •Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience.
- •In lieu of a degree , minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
Preferred Additional Skills
- +Active Secret U.S. Security Clearance
- +Experience with TipQA, SAP, LN, or similar ERP/nonconformance systems
- +Aerospace, space, or defense manufacturing experience
- +Knowledge of ISO9001/AS9100 standards or auditing practices
- +ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- +Hands‑on background in electronics, soldering, inspection, and workmanship to standards such as J‑STD‑001 and IPC‑A‑610
- +Ability to interpret test procedures, use test equipment, support material review functions, and prepare technical reports
- +Strong data collection, analysis, and reporting skills
- +Experience reviewing ATP/ATDR documentation
- +Ability to resolve issues and proactively disposition quality‑related problems
- +Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook)
- +Maintains direct liaison with customers and/or GSI throughout assembly and test and coordinates sequence with Environmental Lab, monitoring test activities.
- +Collects, analyzes, and presents data in various forms to Managers, customer representatives, etc.
- +Review customer/supplier quality