Sr Principal Systems Quality Engineer

V2X is seeking a Sr. Principal Systems Quality Engineering at our Indianapolis, IN location.  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 opportunities
• Document process changes, improvement plans, and performance metrics
• Lead initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs
• Lead system-level quality testing, audits, and failure analysis; validate process changes through KPIs and performance tracking
• Build and run a Lean/Six Sigma program that delivers measurable reduction in defects, cost of poor quality, and cycle time
• Establish 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).
• 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

Desired Skills:

• MS in Engineering or MBA
• ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt; AS9100 Lead Auditor
• Familiarity 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.

Education Requirements:

• 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.

Benefits include the following:

• Healthcare coverage
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance, AD&D, and disability benefits
• Wellness programs
• Paid time off, including holidays
• Learning and Development resources
• Employee assistance resources

Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time and may be modified at the discretion of the company, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.