Principal Product Quality Engineer

About Epirus

Epirus is a high-growth technology company dedicated to overcoming the asymmetric challenges inherent to the future of national security. Epirus' flagship product, Leonidas, is a software-defined system built using intelligent power management techniques which allow power-hungry systems to do more with less.  

Job Summary: 

This is an exciting Principal Product Quality Engineer role with an innovative, high-growth defense technology company. The ideal candidate for the position is agile, collaborative, and results oriented with experience overseeing product quality from design to production for highly complex electro-mechanical assemblies. As an externally and internally facing leader, you are a skilled communicator who can translate Epirus' quality expectations to all parties with a hands-on approach to problem solving and process improvement. 

In this role, you will work closely with program management, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure compliance with AS9100, internal, and customer-specific requirements while leading quality assurance efforts to maintain the highest levels of product quality, reliability, and performance.

Responsibilities: 

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance processes, plans, and procedures in compliance with AS9100, Customer, and Internal Quality Management System requirements.  
• Lead non-conformance investigations, root cause analysis, corrective action implementation, Material Review Board (MRB) & Failure Review Boad (FRB) activities, product/process audits, and inspection/test capability analysis. Verify effectiveness of actions and share lessons learned across product and programs. 
• Lead implementation and adoption of advanced quality mechanisms in the product development process to drive production readiness utilizing tools such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Design for Excellence (DFx), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and First Article Inspections (FAI). 
• Identify potential risks to product/program success and assist in the development of mitigation strategies. 
• Ensure definition and implementation of product/process requirements with traceability back to system level and customer requirements.  
• Collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to drive system wide quality initiatives to meet quality and reliability objectives. Support transition from NPI to scalable production through the development of robust quality assurance processes. 
• Support audits and inspections from customers, regulatory bodies, and certification agencies. 
• Use Statistical Process Control (SPC) and other quality tools to analyze trends and improve product reliability. Define metrics to effectively measure and improve quality performance. 
• Collaborate with various internal teams (engineering, operations, program management) and external stakeholders (government representatives, contractors) to ensure programs meet established milestone and quality deliverables.  
• Provide oversight of product testing, qualification, verification and validation to ensure performance quality and reliability in complex applications. Collaborate with test engineers to deploy robust environmental, mechanical, and functional test plans. 
• Review and analyze test data, inspection reports, and non-conformance reports to ensure product integrity. 
• Prepare quality reports, metrics, and presentations for senior leadership and government agencies.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering, or related field. 
• 8+ years of quality, manufacturing, or engineering experience working in aerospace/defense or translatable experience in other industries. 
• Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerances, design review, configuration management and quality management of complex electro-mechanical assemblies. 
• Experience leading cross-functional teams to solve high visibility quality issues, drive continual improvement initiatives, and adopt quality requirements in the product development process. 
• Familiarity with mechanical parts, PCBA, harnesses, and system assembly, integration & test for complex applications. 
• Strong proficiency in root cause analysis, failure analysis, and problem-solving methodologies. 
• Knowledge of quality management system standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, and/or other similar standards. Experience performing or supporting First Article Inspections per AS9102. 
• Knowledge of the Product Development Process, Design for Excellence (DFx) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles. 
• Experience defining and implementing quality plans to meet internal and external requirements. 
• Experience using data analysis tools to identify trends and establish metrics using SPC and issue/defect management systems. 
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and drive improvements in a fast-paced start-up environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Auditor, Lean Six Sigma, or IPC standards are a plus. 
• Experience with SolidWorks, Altium, Oracle ERP, Manufacturing Execution Software (MES), Jira, Confluence, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Systems and eQMS software implementation/execution. 
• Working knowledge of Agile based development processes. 
• Working knowledge of hardware-enabled software design, test, and release practices. 
• Experience in the Aerospace/Defense industry working with highly technical electromechanical assemblies and tests. Knowledge of IPC and MIL-STD specifications. 
• Experience developing and implementing APQP elements such as Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP), Control Plans, PFMEA, Process Flow Diagrams, and Measurement Capability Analysis in a quality management system. 

Additional Requirements: 

• Ability to travel up to 25% as needed.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS: 

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

At Epirus, you’ll work with technical peers and great people—and get first crack at some of the defining technology challenges of our time. Here, “impossible” is just a challenge. We're a diverse, fast-growing team of change-makers fueling the future of energy with revolutionary solutions. Join us and rewrite the rules.