Senior Quality Engineer

Howmet Aerospace in Branford, CT is currently hiring highly motivated and energetic candidates to join their team. Howmet Aerospace is a leading provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries worldwide. The Branford facility is focused on producing jet engine components that are essential for mission-critical performance and efficiency in aerospace and defense applications. With over 50 years of experience in the Branford facility, we are proud to contribute to the development of more fuel-efficient, quieter aerospace engines, and sustainable ground transportation. For more information, please visit www.howmet.com.

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Job Summary

This position is responsible for ensuring that the customer’s product is processed to the proper specifications and requirements to meet the purchase order and/or contract requirements. Additionally the role drives process control, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions on the shop floor. This is a “hands-on” position. 

Essential Functions

• Responsible for the overall effectiveness of the plant QMS (Quality Management Systems).
• Responsible for ensuring compliance to AS9100D (Aerospace Standard) & AS13100 (Engines).
• Responsible for partnering with management to drive and ensure that quality objectives for the plant are met.
• Prepares for external audit program including AS9100 Registrar, Nadcap, and customer audits as needed. Completes audit plans/checklists to ensure all quality, inspection, and manufacturing requirements are in direct compliance with customer requirements and that accurate and adequate documents of compliance exist.
• Monthly reporting of key process indicators as required by AS9100 and implementing correction when metrics are not met.
• Ownership of Material Review Board (MRB) for product. Including submission of non-conforming material for customer disposition, proposing repair procedures, and taking appropriate action for non-conforming material. Acts as technical liaison between the operation and its customers and suppliers regarding quality concerns and obtains concurrence on appropriate corrective action by telephone or visitation.
• Reviews and interprets customer specifications and blueprints, responsible for communicating these requirements to the production team.
• Manage corrective action system including identification of root cause, response to quality issues by researching problems, and performing appropriate follow-up regarding execution of corrective actions.
• Submission of qualification documentation to customers including First Article Inspections, Process Approvals, and any Advanced Product Quality Planning as required by customers.
• Drive adherence to all quality procedures and activity instructions within the organization, including the revision of plant level procedures as needed.
• Ensuring product and processes at the plant comply with all purchase order, customer, and industry requirements (including the review of these requirements as needed).
• Maintain customer certifications and approvals as needed
• Familiarity and compliance with corporate and plant protocols including, EHS, SOX, Ethics of business conduct, ABS, ASAT, ISO/AS, Nadcap Requirements, and export control. 
• Other assignments as required to meet business needs.
• Analyze products and processes at various intervals of production utilizing statistics and compliance audit techniques.
• Certify parts for shipment.
• Performs internal audits and/or coordinates internal audit programs. Responsible for the follow-up and response to audit findings and Corrective Action Reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.  
• Minimum 5 years of quality/engineering experience in a manufacturing facility or similar environment.
• This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully attain access to such items

 Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and working knowledge of ISO/AS and Nadcap special process requirements.
• ASQC (American Society for Quality Control) certification is preferred for this position.
• Bachelor's Degree in Quality Systems, Manufacturing or Engineering preferred.
• Working knowledge of PFMEA
• Three plus years of experience in quality control or engineering function in an aerospace manufacturing environment. 
• Audit experience. 

Skills and Abilities

• Familiar with ISO/AS requirements and overall OEM quality systems specifications. 
• Training and/or education in SPC, blueprint drafting and reading, computer systems including word-processing, spreadsheets, and technical applications. 
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to read blueprints.
• Proficiency in computer applications such as but not limited to; Excel, Word, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software, Web based platforms, and e-mail systems.
• Ability to multitask across numerous activities while maintaining clear direction on what is needed to resolve issues across the operation or with outside influences.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, and vibration.  The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and outside weather conditions; wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Salary & Benefits

• Compensation based on experience between $110k and $115k.
• Benefit package includes, Medical, Dental, Vision, vacation, and more eligible from day one.
• Excellent 401K benefits vested from day one.