Principle Systems Quality Engineer

This role will be responsible for leading/supporting a dynamic organization across compliance and standards, continuous improvement, and failure investigation in an Aerospace & Defense environment.You will own the quality strategy across the full system lifecycle—from concept and requirements through design, verification, manufacturing, delivery, and sustainment—partnering closely with Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, and Program Management. Ensuring system-level quality, reliability, and compliance will be the primary focus. You will elevate product integrity, reduce risk, and ensure consistent, compliant delivery through a robust QMS, disciplined process management, and a culture of data-driven problem solving. Key Responsibilities:Support, mature, and sustain the AS9100 certified QMS; ensure effective deployment of standards, procedures, work instructions, and records management.Analyze workflows and systems for improvement opportunitiesDocument process changes, improvement plans, and performance metricsLead initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce operational costsLead system-level quality testing, audits, and failure analysis; validate process changes through KPIs and performance trackingBuild and run a Lean/Six Sigma program that delivers measurable reduction in defects, cost of poor quality, and cycle timeEstablish and maintain clear process standards, layered process audits, and visual management to sustain gains.Partner with Systems/Design/Test on verification strategies, environmental/qualification testing, and reliability growth; embed DFMEA best practices. Required Skills:Proven experience of an ISO, AS9100-compliant QMS; strong audit experience and corrective action leadership.Experience leading with RCCA methodology (8D, Fault Tree, Fishbone/Ishikawa, etc.) and FRACAS management.Demonstrated success integrating quality across the system lifecycle, from requirements and design through production and sustainment.Knowledge of Agile Software Development Lifecycles (SDLC’s). Desired Skills:MS in Engineering or MBAASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt; AS9100 Lead AuditorFamiliarity with AS6500, special processes, configuration management, and reliability engineering.Exposure to airborne software/hardware assurance (e.g., DO 178C/DO 254) and model-based systems engineering environments.Digital Thread experience integrating quality with PLM/MES/ERP and deploying analytics/AI for predictive quality.Experience developing suppliers with PPAP/FAI (AS9102), process audits, and performance improvement plans in high-criticality hardware.Conducts hardware, software and system level audits to determine compliance with quality management system standards, configuration assurance, related business, regulatory and customer requirements and reports results to management.Exceptional communication skills, cross-functional influence, team building, and coaching.Leads cross-functional teams in the study of processing data, metrics, models, and processes to discover the underlying cause of complex problems and create and implement preventive or corrective actions.Familiarity with CMMI, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 Education:· Bachelor’s in Engineering (Industrial, Quality, Systems) or related field.· 8 years in Quality/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering within Aerospace & Defense, including 5 years leading multi-site or enterprise quality teams.Company DescriptionAbout BCforward:Founded in 1998 on the idea that industry leaders needed a professional service, and workforce management expert, to fuel the development and execution of core business and technology strategies, BCforward is a Black-owned firm providing unique solutions supporting value capture and digital product delivery needs for organizations around the world. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with an Offshore Development Center in Hyderabad, India, BCforward’s 6,000 consultants support more than 225 clients globally.BCforward champions the power of human potential to help companies transform, accelerate, and scale. Guided by our core values of People-Centric, Optimism, Excellence, Diversity, and Accountability, our professionals have helped our clients achieve their strategic goals for more than 25 years. Our strong culture and clear values have enabled BCforward to become a market leader and best in class places to work.BCforward is an equal opportunity employer.