Staff Engineer, Quality (R5512)

Shield AI · Dallas, TX

Level: Senior
Team: Quality
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior quality role at Shield AI (aerospace & defense) in Dallas, TX. , you will lead quality initiatives across the product lifecycle, driving improvements from early design and new product introduction through full-rate production.

They ask for: 5+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, SPC, FMEA, Control plans

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $90k–$121k.

Median of the low and high ends of 20 live postings that list pay, out of 84 quality engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 83 other live quality postings in Texas.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (5+ vs 3+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Root cause 69%
✓ New product launch 38%
Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 37%
✓ Lean 36%
✓ FMEA 33%
✓ Six Sigma 30%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for MES, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 Shield AI
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 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: Shield AI in Dallas

15 other open roles at this site.

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Senior Supplier Development Engineer (R5487) · Quality · Senior
Sr Director Engineering, V-BAT · Manufacturing · Director+
Director, Avionics Engineering, V-BAT · Manufacturing · Director+

All 16 roles at Shield AI →

Full description from Shield AIAs posted on their careers site.Show

Required qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience)
✓5+ years of experience in Quality, Manufacturing, or Process Engineering roles
✓Demonstrated experience leading root cause analysis and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (RCA/CAPA)
✓Strong knowledge of quality systems and standards (AS9100 or similar)
✓Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and scaling production in a manufacturing environment
✓Proficiency in statistical analysis and process control methods (SPC, capability analysis, etc.)
✓Proven ability to work cross-functionally and influence engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams

Preferred qualifications

✓Experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
✓ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Lean Six Sigma certification, or equivalent
✓Knowledge of design for quality principles, including DFMEA, tolerance analysis, and design reviews
✓Experience working with quality and manufacturing systems (QMS, MES, PLM) and data analysis tools
✓Familiarity with advanced inspection or test methods (metrology, NDT, automated inspection, etc.)

Show full description ↓

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description

At Shield AI, we’re building advanced autonomous aircraft that are redefining what is possible, and we are looking for a Staff Quality Engineer to help ensure our products meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety. In this role, you will lead quality initiatives across the product lifecycle, driving improvements from early design and new product introduction through full-rate production.

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining robust quality systems in alignment with AS9100 standards, leading root cause investigations and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions. You will partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to identify risks, improve process capability, and ensure consistent product quality. Your work will include supporting NPI efforts, establishing control plans and inspection strategies, and using data-driven methods to monitor and improve manufacturing performance.

As a Staff Quality Engineer, you will play a key role in shaping quality strategy, mentoring team members, and influencing cross-functional decisions without direct authority. This is an opportunity to work hands on with next generation aerospace technology and contribute directly to the delivery of highly reliable autonomous systems that will define the future of aviation.