Eng Prin - Quality @ BAE Systems

Job Description

BAE Systems is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer to serve as the technical authority for manufacturing quality at the Aiken site. In this role, you will provide expert-level leadership and technical oversight across the production floor, ensuring that complex manufacturing processes are stable, compliant, and optimized for quality. You will act as the primary SME for quality engineering, driving continuous improvement and providing mentorship to junior engineers and quality technicians to ensure the delivery of mission-critical products.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Quality Leadership: Lead the development and execution of quality strategies for manufacturing operations, ensuring all production processes align with BAE Systems' quality standards and site-specific requirements.
• Shop-Floor Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for the production floor, Program Management, and customers regarding complex quality issues and technical deviations.
• Process Optimization: Define and implement quality objectives and strategies to reduce scrap, rework, and non-conformances through the application of Lean Six Sigma and advanced quality tools.
• Compliance & Validation: Ensure all technical tests, performance metrics, and quality requirements are met; validate that manufacturing outcomes are consistent with established engineering principles and industry regulations.
• CDRL & Contract Oversight: Review contract deliverables (CDRLs) to ensure the manufacturing process is capable of meeting all customer-mandated quality documentation and verification requirements.
• Quality Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive Quality Plans, including detailed inspection points, sampling plans, and resource requirements tailored to the manufacturing lifecycle.
• Root Cause & Risk Management: Lead high-level root cause analysis (RCA) for critical non-conformances; assess production risk areas and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Stakeholder Technical Guidance: Address the technical concerns and expectations of stakeholders, ensuring that quality requirements are understood and executable by the production workforce.
• Metric Tracking & Reporting: Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for quality; report on technical status, cost of poor quality (CoPQ), and schedule impacts to site leadership.
• Technical Defense & Audits: Prepare and defend technical quality results during internal audits and external customer inspections; lead First Article Inspections (FAI) and Final Quality Acceptance.
• Proposal & Concept Support: Provide expert technical input for new manufacturing proposals, including the definition of quality specifications, inspection requirements, and associated costs.
• Mentorship & Organizational Growth: Advise site management on evolving organizational needs and technical competencies; mentor junior quality engineers to build a high-performing technical pipeline at the Aiken site.
• People Leader: Manage a team of up to six direct reports.

Required Skills and Education

• Typically requires a bachelors degree and six years of related experience, or the overall equivalent;
• Must have an understanding of Quality Systems (e.g. ISO-9000) requirements;
• Knowledge of the Seven Basic Tools of Quality (fishbone diagrams, check sheets, control charts, histograms, pareto charts, scatter diagrams, and flow/run charts) and a background in creating and using them in the past as a part of their quality experience;
• Excellent interpersonal skills to operate effectively within a matrixed organization;
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence without direct authority, and provide strategic support;
• Able to manage, lead, and mentor a team in accomplishing work activities;
• Computer proficiency in MS Suite including Work, Excel, PowerPoint, and Database applications;
• Ability to create presentations for internal and external customers on quality issues, metrics, etc. in order to effectively deliver the relevant information and concepts to personnel unacquainted with quality processes and requirements;
• High level of comfort with presentations to large and small groups.

Preferred Skills and Education

• Strategic Project Leadership: Proven track record of leading high-impact quality initiatives, such as implementing a new Quality Management System (QMS), leading a site-wide Lean transformation, or managing the quality launch of a major new product line.
• Change Management: Experience leading organizational change on the manufacturing floor, specifically in improving quality culture and driving the adoption of standardized work instructions.
• Specialized Welding & Inspection Expertise: Professional certification from an accredited source, such as a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or Visual Testing (VT) certification.
• Technical Oversight: Experience establishing weld quality standards, managing weld procedure specifications (WPS), and overseeing non-destructive testing (NDT) to ensure structural integrity and compliance with industry codes (e.g., AWS, ASME).
• Defect Mitigation: Expertise in identifying weld defects and implementing corrective actions to reduce weld-related rework and scrap on the production floor.
• Regulatory Expert: Demonstrable, deep-dive knowledge of ISO 9001, TS-16949, or AS9100 standards, including experience acting as a lead auditor or primary point of contact during external certification audits.
• Industry Application: Experience applying these standards within highly regulated environments (Aerospace, Defense, or Automotive) to ensure 100% compliance with stringent government and customer requirements.
• QMS Development: Experience developing, documenting, and maintaining quality manuals and procedures that align with these international standards.

About BAE Systems, Inc.:

BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Benefits Information

Employee

Benefits

At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

Intern

Benefits

Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.

Please note: Some benefits may be different for union employees that are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or for positions covered by a wage law called the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).