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Quality Engineering Manager

Irvine, CA

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Description

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Quality Engineering Manager  to join our growing team. Reporting to the Director, Quality, the Quality Engineering Manager will support critical customers, including but not limited to Aerospace and Military, by coordinating and managing daily quality engineering activities designed to ensure continuous quality improvement and consistent production of products in compliance with established Quality Goals, Procedures, and Customers Requirements. The Quality Engineering (Q.E.) Manager will oversee the quality engineering department and staff, developing, implementing, and maintaining a quality and reliability testing system for the plant's products and development processes. As an integral part of the site leadership team, this role will lead the definition, execution, and deployment of the Quality Engineering team in conjunction with the Quality Director. The Quality Engineering Manager will execute and administer plant-wide Quality Engineering support, Quality Control, and continuous improvement. As such, the leader in this role will promote employee engagement while fostering a culture that drives inclusion and diversity throughout the site.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the quality engineering team, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the highest levels of performance and professional development.
  • Develop and implement quality engineering strategies and initiatives that align with company goals and industry standards.
  • Develop and analyze data to determine whether current processes and procedures meet the finished product's proposed quality and reliability expectancy.
  • Assist in the development/implementation of quality plans, and processes for new customers, new products, and new technologies.
  • Develop and maintain an effective workforce of quality engineering personnel to facilitate accomplishments of quality goals.
  • Formulate and maintain quality objectives and coordinate objectives with production procedures in cooperation with other plant managers and quality staff to maximize product quality/reliability and minimize costs.
  • Support all team members engaged in production, inspection, and testing activities to ensure the consistent and repeatable delivery of conforming finished goods per customers' requirements.
  • Plan, promoted, and organized training activities as required related to craft, product quality, and reliability.
  • Maintain and provide continuous improvement updates to the organization’s Quality Assurance Plan is coordination with the company’s objectives and customer requirements.
  • Address customer complaints regarding quality based on investigations and ensures the timely implementation of related preventive and corrective actions.
  • Promote awareness and strict compliance with all customer requirements and deliverables throughout the organization.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in quality engineering within the aerospace industry.
  • In-depth knowledge of aerospace quality standards (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001) and regulatory requirements.
  • Proven track record of leading quality engineering teams and driving process improvements.
  • Strong analytical skills and proficiency in quality management tools and methodologies.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
  • Energy and passion to invent and create new solutions, challenge the status quo, and drive positive change 
  • Ability and willingness to go above and beyond one's comfort zone when learning about other systems and technologies.
  • U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.

Additional Differentiators  

  • Working knowledge of satellite systems, subsystems, assembly and test.
  • Certification in quality management (e.g., CQE, CQM) is a plus.
  • Experience with APQP, AS9145 requirements
  • Experience with a fast-paced production environment.

 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag! 

Salary Range

$145,000 - $175,000 USD

 Benefits

  • 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
  • 401(k) Match
  • Flexible Time Off (FTO)
  • Education Reimbursement
  • Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital 

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hr@terranorbital.com.

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm. 

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