Senior Hardware Quality Engineer

At ispaceUS, we are building the technologies and capabilities that will enable a sustainable future in space. We are seeking a Senior Hardware Quality Engineer to play a critical role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and mission readiness of our spacecraft and aerospace hardware.

In this role, you will collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Program Management to establish and maintain rigorous product assurance standards throughout the hardware lifecycle. From initial development through manufacturing, integration, testing, and delivery, you will drive quality excellence, identify and mitigate risks, and champion continuous improvement to help ensure mission success.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Program Management and Engineering to define and implement product assurance requirements, quality standards, verification criteria, and hardware acceptance processes.

• Provide quality engineering oversight throughout hardware development, manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, and delivery.

• Review engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing documentation, and inspection requirements to ensure compliance with applicable product and program requirements.

• Lead nonconformance management activities, coordinate Material Review Boards (MRBs), facilitate Failure Review Boards (FRBs), and drive root cause investigations and corrective actions through closure.

• Evaluate hardware nonconformances and recommend technically justified dispositions in collaboration with responsible engineering authorities.

• Develop, monitor, and communicate program quality metrics, including nonconformance trends, defect rates, corrective action effectiveness, and product and process performance.

• Support engineering change processes by evaluating impacts to product quality, verification requirements, configuration management, and hardware acceptance.

• Establish risk-based inspection and verification strategies, leveraging supplier documentation, certificates of conformity, and objective evidence of compliance.

• Review supplier quality documentation and collaborate with internal teams and suppliers to resolve nonconformances and quality concerns.

• Support hardware qualification, verification, and acceptance activities, ensuring proper documentation, traceability, and resolution of quality issues.

• Proactively identify product and process quality risks and coordinate mitigation strategies with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Program Management.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, implement effective process controls, and promote a culture of quality, accountability, and innovation.

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to team members on quality engineering processes, inspection practices, and product assurance requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

• 5+ years of experience in hardware quality engineering, product assurance, manufacturing quality, or a related aerospace engineering discipline.

• Experience supporting complex aerospace hardware throughout development, manufacturing, integration, testing, and acceptance.

• Demonstrated ability to review and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, manufacturing documentation, and inspection requirements.

• Experience managing hardware nonconformances, supporting root cause investigations, and implementing corrective and preventive actions.

• Working knowledge of structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, 5 Whys, Fishbone Analysis, or 8D.

• Ability to identify and assess technical and quality risks, develop mitigation strategies, and support sound engineering decisions.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary technical teams.

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex quality challenges, drive issues to resolution, and maintain high standards of accountability.

What Makes You Stand Out

• 7+ years of progressive experience in aerospace hardware quality engineering, product assurance, or manufacturing quality, particularly supporting spacecraft or flight hardware programs.

• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI), environmental qualification testing, and flight hardware verification and acceptance.

• Familiarity with NASA standards and requirements related to Reliability, Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) Parts, Materials and Processes, Software Product Assurance, and System Safety, including Range Safety.

• Experience leading Material Review Boards (MRBs), Failure Review Boards (FRBs), and complex hardware failure investigations.

• Demonstrated success developing risk-based inspection strategies, improving manufacturing processes, and implementing measurable quality improvements.

• Experience collaborating with suppliers to evaluate product compliance, resolve quality issues, and improve supplier performance.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent demonstrated process improvement expertise.

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.

• Experience working in a fast-paced aerospace development environment where innovation, collaboration, and mission success are essential.

• A passion for space exploration and a commitment to building reliable, high-quality hardware that supports the future of lunar exploration.