Quality Engineer-Aerospace Manufacturing & FAA Compliance

JOB SUMMARY: Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) is seeking a highly experienced Quality Engineer – Aerospace Manufacturing & FAA Compliance to support production, supplier quality, and airworthiness compliance across helicopter manufacturing and overhaul operations. This is a senior-level engineering position responsible for ensuring products, processes, materials, and manufacturing methods conform to FAA regulations, engineering requirements, and company quality standards. The Quality Engineer serves as a technical authority in the evaluation, disposition, containment, and resolution of deficient, nonconforming, suspect, and non-DfMA (Design for Manufacturing & Assembly) conditions affecting aircraft components and assemblies. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in aerospace manufacturing processes, FAA regulatory compliance, root cause and corrective action systems, and risk-based quality engineering methodologies. This individual must be capable of making sound engineering decisions in fast-paced production environments where airworthiness, product integrity, and operational execution are critical. This role requires a highly analytical aerospace professional with exceptional technical judgment, strong business acumen, and a relentless commitment to airworthiness, escape prevention, manufacturability, quality, cost, and continuous improvement. The Quality Engineer is expected to maintain a strong floor presence, influence technical and operational decisions, and serve as a trusted advisor to Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Operations leadership. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: • Review, investigate, contain, and disposition nonconforming materials, components, assemblies, and processes in accordance with FAA regulations, engineering requirements, and company quality procedures • Serve as a technical authority in the evaluation of deficient and non-DfMA product conditions, providing practical, compliant, and manufacturable corrective action recommendations • Lead root cause and corrective action investigations involving quality escapes, recurring defects, supplier issues, process failures, and airworthiness concerns using structured methodologies including 5-Why, Fishbone, RCCA, PFMEA, and risk-based analysis techniques • Partner with Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly efficiency, process capability, product reliability, and overall production readiness • Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, AS9100 quality management requirements, internal procedures, and airworthiness standards, with zero tolerance for compromised product integrity • Review and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, work instructions, inspection criteria, manufacturing methods, and airworthiness requirements to ensure technical and regulatory compliance • Support and participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities including technical evaluation, containment strategy development, disposition recommendations, and implementation of corrective actions • Analyze production and quality performance data to identify adverse trends, recurring defects, process variation, escape risks, and opportunities for operational improvement • Drive containment and corrective actions for supplier quality issues, manufacturing escapes, and internal nonconformances to prevent recurrence and protect product integrity • Support First Article Inspection (FAI), process validation, inspection planning, control plans, and production readiness activities for new and existing products • Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to inspectors, technicians, engineers, and manufacturing personnel regarding quality standards, workmanship expectations, regulatory compliance, and problem-solving methodologies • Maintain an active presence on the production floor, supporting manufacturing teams in resolving real-time technical, quality, and process-related issues • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects, improving first-pass yield, eliminating rework, reducing cost of poor quality (COPQ), and improving operational efficiency • Participate in internal, customer, supplier, and regulatory audits and support timely closure of corrective and preventive actions • Exercise sound engineering judgment and decision-making authority in balancing manufacturability, compliance, airworthiness, quality, schedule, and operational risk.