Senior Quality Engineer

Position Summary:

The Senior Quality Engineer serves as the primary quality technical expert and liaison for a dedicated Customer Account, ensuring all product and process requirements are rigorously met. This role demands a strong command of quality systems, processes, and methods, specifically leading and approving all Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions and First Article Inspection (FAI) reports.

The Senior Quality Engineer will apply specialized knowledge and skill to proactively review and interpret the customer's technical specifications and drawings. Beyond compliance, one will lead cross-functional projects to analyze, modify, and optimize existing equipment, systems, and processes, driving significant improvements in quality, efficiency, and cost reduction while maintaining strict regulatory and customer compliance. The role will require a team orientated individual who embodies the company values of Passion, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy.

Our Values:

Phoenix’s core values are the shared beliefs and essential principles that guide our behavior and interactions with each other and our decision making. These four values are taught and modeled in all we do:

• Passion: Belief in the mission and vision: Embrace the passion to bring it to life.
• Integrity: Acting with honesty, transparency, and truthfulness, even when no one is looking.
• Determination: Driven to get the job done, regardless of the challenges.
• Empathy: Show regard, respect, and courtesy for one another.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Own, control, and maintain the integrity of the Quality Management System documentation, including comprehensive management of First Article Inspection (FAI) and Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs/FARs), ensuring all records are current, traceable, and compliant with internal and customer requirements.
• Drive compliance and rigorous documentation control for all Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions, coordinating cross-functionally to compile, verify, and submit the complete package to secure final sign-off.
• Lead the corrective process by providing in-depth analysis and advanced statistical data processing. This includes identifying root causes and verifying the effectiveness of solutions for complex product or process nonconformities and design challenges.
• Reviews quality documentation and records to ensure compliance with requirements, objectives, and/or contracts.
• Develops, modifies, applies, and maintains quality evaluation, control systems, and protocols for materials being processed into partially finished or finished products.
• Conduct thorough inspections and audits of aerospace components and systems to ensure compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, and customer quality standards. Assists with audits and audit preparations.
• Applies a strong knowledge of quality systems to developing and/or improving the systems and products necessary to ensure that the business attains its annual goals and meets internal, customer, and regulatory requirements (ISO9001, AS9100 & NADCAP).
• Solve problems and troubleshoot using good judgment, interfacing with other departments/suppliers to ensure thorough root cause/ corrective action is completed for all nonconformances on assigned customer products.
• Communicates issues or opportunities for improvement identified during quality assurance activities and provide recommended process improvements.
• Play an active role on quality management teams within the organization.
• Supports production needs for customer programs.
• Works with customers during on-site scheduled audits and visits.
• Interpret, review, and analyze engineering drawings, specifications, and quality control documentation to identify potential issues and deviations. (i.e., Revision Updates).
• Participate in the Corrective Action Board/Quality Clinic in root cause analysis and investigations into any non-conformities or defects, taking corrective and preventive actions as needed. Assist on internal, customer, and supplier corrective actions.
• Participate in supplier quality assessments and supplier audits to ensure the quality of incoming materials and components.
• Assist the Quality Clinic in reviewing and dispositioning nonconforming material.
• Interface with customers and suppliers on quality issues. Submit deviation requests to customers for QNs.
• Maintain, analyze, and distribute required Quality Metrics (i.e., QMS KPIs, Management Review).
• Provide guidance and training to employees on quality standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Collaborate with Engineering to determine process controls including gaging requirements.
• Interconnect with the Production/Shop Floor management personnel on quality issues and corrective actions.
• Assist production by providing specification review and implementation to assure process integrity.
• Regular verbal or written communication to internal stakeholders utilizing both electronic and analog systems.
• Utilization of office machines including copiers, scanners, phone systems, computers (including email), and other standard equipment.
• Ability to work as a team player in a fast-paced environment with Manufacturing, Operations, and Production Control.
• Participate in the operation of and compliance with all safety, hazardous material handling, and disposal requirements in accordance with government regulations and company procedures.
• Maintain a clean work environment (including assigned storage and cleaning duties) in full compliance with all internal, customer and government regulations.
• Assist with other Inspection Department functions as required.
• Contributes to accomplishing sundry engineering activities as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent Education required. Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of Manufacturing and Quality Control experience in Aerospace or other complex manufacturing industry with exacting/demanding requirements.
• Experience using lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma problem solving methodology.
• Experience working in AS9100 / ISO 9001 quality systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with quality management systems (QMS) compliant with AS9100D.
• Proficient with ERP systems (Global Shop).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of customer design specifications and requirements.
• Understanding of common industry specifications (material, coating/plating, NDT, etc.)
• Understanding of complex aerospace blueprints, technical charts, and specification sheets.
• Ability to communicate technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, internally and externally.
• Ability to accomplish trend analysis and statistical process control (SPC).
• Ability to adapt, prioritize, multi-task and remain flexible to changes; responds with a sense of urgency.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T blueprints and the ability to interpret them accurately.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to type, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Position requires sitting for extended periods of time and repetitive data entry. Ability to access all areas of the facility to determine quality needs.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Phoenix Manufacturing’s Quality Assurance Manual requires that all individuals performing product verification & visual inspections, DQR (source inspection activities) and/or NDT visual inspections must be qualified technically and visually. These persons have passed appropriate eye examinations administered by a medically qualified/trained person. Eye exams are done in accordance with Quality Policy Manual Section 7.2. For individuals who do not meet vision requirements, their supervisor will review their job assignment and determine if vision requirements are needed to determine product conformance, which is then documented and available upon request.

Work Environment:

This job operates in both a professional office and manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. The pace is rapid and dynamic, multi-task oriented with short notice/changing deadlines. Accuracy and thoroughness/follow-through is very important. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.