Senior Quality Engineer
Senior Quality Engineer
Location: Onsite in the San Diego Office
Company Overview:
Firestorm grew out of the simple question: how does a US ally country with a relatively low defense budget deter an aggressor state entity with a vastly larger war chest? We’re building the very answer to that question through what we term "democratized deterrence." Firestorm is a VC-backed defense technology company that develops mission-adaptable aerial vehicles, aiming to revolutionize defense procurement cost paradigms by delivering world-class capabilities at significantly lower costs.
About the Role:
Reporting to the VP of Hardware, the Senior Quality Engineer will lead all aspects of Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Firestorm product offerings across all phases of development and production.
About You:
You are an accomplished quality professional with a proven track record of successfully implementing quality initiatives within a startup environment. You possess a deep understanding of the quality requirements for high-tech, electro-mechanical products and are committed to exceeding customer expectations. You value an engaged workforce, are a pleasure to work with, and can lead technical collaborations across various disciplines, appreciating differing viewpoints.
Key Responsibilities:
Ensure critical quality specifications are integrated early in the design process.
Serve as a department leader, coach, and key stakeholder in manufacturing quality, assembly, debugging, post-processing, and final assembly.
Manage and resolve supplier quality issues, coordinating efforts with Supply Chain and Engineering.
Oversee the First Article Inspection (FAI) process and maintain golden samples.
Supervise the incoming parts inspection process.
Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) within team settings, documenting and reporting results.
Collaborate with manufacturing to develop, implement, track, and report on quality metrics.
Ensure adherence to quality standards in manufacturing processes and interdepartmental handoffs.
Create and implement quality systems and tools to meet quality, throughput, and performance capability targets.
Research, present, and recommend alternative solutions to complex problems related to global operations expansion and scaling.
Partner with engineering team leaders to coordinate New Product Introduction (NPI) handoffs, gate reviews, and reporting.
Spearhead and manage the reliability testing program for Firestorm products.
Build and lead a growing team responsible for quality testing activities.
Demonstrate a desire for personal growth and advancement within the Quality and Test Engineering discipline as the team evolves.
Ensure safety compliance in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.
Skills and Experience Required:
Minimum 5 years of experience as a Lead Quality Engineer or Manager, preferably in high-tech environments.
Proven ability to plan and manage quality activities for multiple products.
Strong aptitude for providing reliable delivery schedules to customer-facing Business Development teams.
Experience in hiring and coaching manufacturing teams to achieve excellence.
Other Requirements:
Ability to lift up to 20 lbs.
Must be legally authorized to work in the US without requiring visa sponsorship from Firestorm.
U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with government clearance and certain other restricted roles.
Knowledge of and adherence to local labor laws and Firestorm employment policies.
Firestorm Commitment:
Firestorm is committed to a diverse workforce and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We make hiring decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship / U.S. Permanent Resident is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Salary Range: $140K - $160K