Staff Quality Engineer

Location: Frisco, TX (Onsite)

Salary: $120,000 – $180,000/year

About Shield AI

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company on a mission to protect service members and civilians with intelligent autonomous systems. Its product portfolio includes the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, along with the Hivemind Enterprise and Hivemind Vision platforms. With offices and operations across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, Shield AI's technology is actively supporting missions around the world.

Position Overview

At Shield AI, we're developing advanced autonomous aircraft that are redefining what's possible in aerospace and defense. We're looking for a Staff Quality Engineer to ensure our products meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety throughout the entire product lifecycle.

In this role, you'll lead quality initiatives from early product development and new product introduction (NPI) through full-rate production. You'll partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to identify risks, improve manufacturing processes, and implement scalable quality systems that support rapid growth while maintaining world-class product quality.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on quality leader who enjoys solving complex technical problems and influencing cross-functional teams in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

What You'll Do

Product & Manufacturing Quality

• Lead quality initiatives across the entire product lifecycle, from design through production.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and production ramp-up activities.
• Develop quality plans, inspection strategies, and process control methodologies.
• Ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet quality and reliability requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality and operational efficiency.

Root Cause & Corrective Action

• Lead structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for manufacturing, supplier, and product quality issues.
• Develop and implement effective Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Verify corrective action effectiveness through data analysis and follow-up activities.
• Drive a culture of problem solving and continuous improvement.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Develop and maintain quality systems aligned with AS9100 and company standards.
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures and customer quality requirements.
• Support audits, process improvements, and quality documentation activities.
• Help establish scalable quality processes that support continued company growth.

Process Improvement & Data Analysis

• Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability studies, and data analytics to monitor manufacturing performance.
• Analyze production trends to identify opportunities for quality improvements.
• Develop metrics and dashboards that support data-driven decision making.
• Improve process capability and reduce variation across manufacturing operations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Supplier Quality teams to proactively identify and mitigate quality risks.
• Support design reviews and Design for Quality (DFQ) initiatives.
• Influence technical decisions across multiple organizations without direct authority.
• Mentor junior engineers and help elevate quality best practices across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Process Engineering.
• Demonstrated experience leading Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implementing effective CAPA programs.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems, including AS9100 or similar standards.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and scaling production within a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability analysis, and statistical quality methods.
• Proven ability to collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supplier organizations while influencing without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent certification.
• Knowledge of Design for Quality (DFQ), DFMEA, tolerance analysis, and engineering design reviews.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (QMS), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and manufacturing data analysis tools.
• Familiarity with advanced inspection and testing methods, including metrology, non-destructive testing (NDT), and automated inspection systems.

Why Join Shield AI?

Join a team that's pushing the boundaries of autonomous aerospace technology. As a Staff Quality Engineer, you'll play a critical role in delivering highly reliable autonomous aircraft while helping shape the quality systems and manufacturing processes that will support the next generation of aviation and defense technologies. Working alongside world-class engineers, you'll have the opportunity to solve complex technical challenges, influence product development, and make a meaningful impact on mission-critical systems.