Senior Quality Engineer

About Us

Since 1936, Helander has manufactured precision metal components for aerospace, defense, energy, medical, and OEM markets. Using metal spinning, hydroforming, and CNC machining, we form components from 1″ to 100″ in diameter—across every alloy and to the highest performance standards.

AS9100D | ISO 9001:2015 | ITAR | NADCAP

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with engineering to define quality requirements and inspection strategies for components and assemblies
• Develop and maintain control plans, inspection plans, and quality documentation
• Support new part introduction, prototype builds, and process development
• Lead and support root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (RCCA / CAPA)
• Review and approve first-article inspection (FAI) packages (AS9102 or equivalent)
• Analyze inspection and process data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Support process capability studies and risk assessments
• Support internal and external audits (AS9100, customer audits)
• Collaborate with Quality Inspectors to ensure inspection methods align with design intent
• Maintain configuration control and ensure documentation accuracy
• Drive systemic improvements across manufacturing, inspection, and quality processes
• Communicate quality risks, status, and progress clearly to cross-functional teams
• Serve as the primary quality interface with customer quality teams on inspection methodology, measurement alignment, and acceptance criteria
• Align internal inspection methods with customer requirements to ensure consistent measurement results
• Participate in customer quality reviews, FAI reviews, and nonconformance discussions as required
• Support resolution of measurement discrepancies and inspection method differences between organizations
• Train and support inspectors and junior engineers

Advanced / Senior Responsibilities (Level II)

• Define quality strategy for complex or flight-critical components and own quality execution for specific customers
• Support supplier quality and special process oversight as required
• Influence design decisions through early risk identification and manufacturability input

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline
• Experience in a manufacturing or aerospace-quality environment
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and inspection methods
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent quality systems
• Background in manufacturing, inspection, or CMM programming
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting precision machining or complex manufacturing processes
• Experience with process capability analysis and statistical methods
• Experience supporting audits and customer interactions
• Master's degree in Engineering or related field

Compensation

• Quality Engineer – Level I: $60.00 – $75.00/hour
• Senior Quality Engineer – Level II: $75.00 – $95.00/hour

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $ $95.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Coordinate measuring machine programming: 5 years (Required)
• Customer relationship management: 2 years (Required)
• GD&T: 5 years (Required)
• Quality inspection: 5 years (Required)
• AS9100: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Lombard, IL Required)

Work Location: In person