Manufacturing Quality Assurance Engineer

Title:

Manufacturing Quality Assurance Engineer

KBR is seeking a Manufacturing Quality Assurance Engineer to support the U.S. Navy's MQ-25A Stingray Program Office (PMA-268) at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. PMA-268 is responsible for the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned air system and the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS), working closely with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to integrate the Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft into the Carrier Air Wing. The MQ-25A provides an organic aerial refueling capability while advancing manned-unmanned teaming and future carrier-based unmanned aviation operations.

The Manufacturing Quality Assurance Engineer will ensure government oversight of quality assurance, manufacturing, production readiness, supplier quality, flight test, and airworthiness activities associated with the MQ-25A Stingray program. The successful candidate will provide independent quality engineering expertise throughout Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), flight test, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), and fielding activities.

This position will monitor manufacturing and quality processes for compliance with approved technical requirements, production specifications, engineering drawings, contractual obligations, and aerospace quality standards. The Manufacturing Quality Assurance Engineer will collaborate with Government Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), contractors, and suppliers to ensure mission-ready, airworthy, and compliant products are delivered to the fleet.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead PMA-268 quality assurance, manufacturing, and airworthiness activities associated with MQ-25A system development, production, and delivery. Conduct manufacturing process surveillance and quality assessments at contractor and supplier facilities. Participate in Production Readiness Reviews (PRRs), Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRRs), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), System Verification Reviews (SVRs), and Government Acceptance Reviews (GARs).
• Review manufacturing flow plans, inspection plans, quality plans, process qualification records, and production work instructions.
• Assess contractor compliance with contract requirements, technical specifications, and approved Quality Management Systems. Provide oversight of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) activities. Review and evaluate First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements. Provide expertise to Material Review Boards (MRBs), Failure Review Boards (FRBs), Engineering Review Boards (ERBs), and Configuration Control Boards (CCBs).
• Review nonconformance reports, corrective action requests, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions. Verify that quality issues, hardware discrepancies, and manufacturing defects are properly documented and resolved. Evaluate contractor and supplier performance through audits, surveillance activities, and program quality metrics. Provide oversight to supplier quality management activities and assess subcontractor compliance with contractual quality requirements.
• Monitor configuration management processes and assess impacts of engineering changes, waivers, deviations, and technical directives. Provide quality oversight of aircraft structures, avionics, electrical systems, mission systems, propulsion systems, and autonomous vehicle subsystems. Review manufacturing and inspection documentation for completeness prior to hardware acceptance, system integration, and testing. Provide airworthiness certification activities and verification of aircraft qualification requirements.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing, integration activities, system testing, and flight test readiness assessments. Analyze quality trend data and identify opportunities for continuous process improvement and risk reduction. Implement implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven process improvement initiatives.
• Prepare technical assessments, audit reports, quality metrics, presentations, and recommendations for Government leadership. Collaborate with engineering, logistics, program management, test, and contractor personnel to resolve quality-related issues.

Basic Qualifications

• US Citizenship required. Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance. Ability to access Government and contractor facilities supporting NAVAIR programs.
• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Minimum 10 years of experience supporting aerospace, naval aviation, defense, manufacturing quality assurance, supplier quality, or quality engineering programs.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense acquisition programs.
• Experience with aircraft manufacturing, production, integration, test, sustainment, or airworthiness activities.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, quality management systems, and aerospace manufacturing standards.
• Experience conducting audits, inspections, root cause investigations, corrective action reviews, and process assessments.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, technical data packages, manufacturing work instructions, and specifications.
• Experience developing and analyzing quality metrics and performance indicators.
• Knowledge of configuration management and engineering change processes.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and quality data analysis tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering
• Active Secret Security Clearance.
• Experience supporting NAVAIR, PMA organizations, NAWCAD, or Naval Aviation acquisition programs.
• Previous experience supporting MQ-25, MQ-4C Triton, MQ-9, F/A-18, E-2D, P-8A, F-35, or other military aviation programs.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or equivalent ASQ certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• AS9100 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Experience with supplier quality surveillance and production readiness assessments.
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, and aerospace workmanship standards.
• Familiarity with NAVAIR Airworthiness processes and military aircraft certification requirements.
• Experience supporting autonomous systems, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), mission systems integration, carrier aviation, or flight test programs.
• Experience supporting government-contractor integrated product teams in highly regulated aerospace environments.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 hours/week.

Compensation: $157K-$197K. The salary range posted is based on the national average. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s location, knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience, contract affordability, and in consideration of internal parity.

Additional Compensation: KBR may offer bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation to certain job titles or levels per internal policy or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

KBR Benefits​: KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule.  We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture.  These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company.  That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together. 

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.