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Quality Engineer - Space Flight Hardware

SQA Services, Inc. Seattle, Washington, United States

remotepart-time

Salary: $55 - $65 / hour

Posted Feb 2, 2026

Role & seniority: Quality Engineer - Space Flight Hardware (senior, 12-month contract)

Stack/tools: Aerospace quality systems; MRB/ARB processes; supplier quality management; compliance with NASA standards and IPC/ESD; ITAR-controlled data; background screening

Top 3 responsibilities

  1. Monitor contractor controls during fabrication, integration, and testing of space flight hardware

  2. Serve as voting/approval authority for MRB/ARB actions with stakeholder concurrence; evaluate contractor performance

  3. Document flight hardware/software anomalies, corrective actions, and re-verification; identify quality risks and communicate them to stakeholders

Must-have skills

  • 15+ years in manufacturing/assembly/QA of space flight hardware

  • Deep knowledge of supplier quality management, requirements flow-down, compliance, and data analysis

  • NASA certifications (or previous certification) for listed standards (NASA-STD-8739.1/2/3/4, ANSI/ESD 20.20, NASA-STD-8719.9) or IPC equivalents

  • U.S. citizen and ability to pass background check

Nice-to-haves

  • Experience with Government agencies

  • Cross-functional collaboration and aerospace regulatory audits

  • Proven supplier performance management and quality assurance process expertise

Location & work type

  • Seattle, WA, on-site; 12-month contract

  • ITAR-sensitive role; candidate must be U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; ITAR compliance required

  • Additional notes: Compensation listed as $55–$65

Full Description

For almost 30 years, SQA Services has been a premier leader in the provision of managed supplier quality services for audits, assessments, remote surveillance assessments, corrective actions, remediation, inspections, and engineering to manufacturers within all industries. We deliver services by deploying associates who are located throughout the United States and in 90+ countries around the world to your supplier sites. Our associates are expert quality assurance professionals with broad experience and local knowledge who can represent our clients on-demand and on-site faster than our competitors.

We are seeking a Quality Engineer - Space Flight Hardware to join our team in Seattle, WA. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in quality inspection, particularly in the aerospace industry & space flight hardware, with the ability to independently validate established criteria and conduct complex inspections without additional guidance. This is a 12-Month long contract position. \n

Key Responsibilities

  • Monitor contractor controls and perform quality assurance activities during fabrication, integration, and testing of space flight hardware.
  • Evaluate contractor performance and conduct physical verification of the quality status of supplies and services.
  • Serve as a voting and approval authority for Material Review Board (MRB) and Anomaly Review Board (ARB) actions, ensuring all decisions receive stakeholder concurrence.
  • Ensure that flight hardware and software anomalies, corrective actions, and re-verification processes are properly documented according to the supplier’s failure and deficiency reporting systems.
  • Identify and communicate potential risks by advising stakeholders of any operations, controls, or nonconformances that may jeopardize quality or the safeguarding of supplies and services.
  • Satisfy mandatory flight hardware inspection requirements, ensuring compliance with all established standards.
  • Collaborate with on-site personnel to stay informed of plant-wide activities that may impact program performance.

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of 15 years of experience in manufacturing, assembly, and/or quality assurance of space flight hardware.
  • Extensive knowledge of supplier quality management operations, requirements flow-down, compliance standards, and performance data analysis techniques.

NASA certifications (or previous certification) in the following standards

  • NASA-STD-8739.1 (Staking and Conformal Coating)
  • NASA-STD-8739.2 (Surface Mount Soldering) or IPC J-STD-001-ES
  • NASA-STD-8739.3 (Soldering) or IPC J-STD-001-ES
  • NASA-STD-8739.4 (Crimping, Cables & Wiring)
  • ANSI/ESD 20.20 (Electrostatic Discharge)
  • NASA-STD-8719.9 (Critical Hardware Handling)
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen due to the sensitive nature of the work.
  • Ability to pass a background check.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior experience working with Government agencie
  • Strong understanding of supplier quality assurance processes and supplier performance management.
  • Demonstrated success in collaborating with cross-functional teams and ensuring compliance with aerospace industry standards.
  • Experience conducting audits and quality assessments in a highly regulated environment.

\n $55 - $65 an hour Mileage Compensation ($0.70 per mile driven) \n

Note: This position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles. As such, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) to comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants who do not meet these criteria will not be considered for this role.

SQA Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit and qualifications, and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

#ZR

Quality InspectionAerospace IndustrySpace Flight HardwareQuality AssuranceSupplier Quality ManagementCompliance StandardsPerformance Data AnalysisNASA CertificationsElectrostatic DischargeCritical Hardware HandlingAnomaly Review BoardMaterial Review BoardRisk IdentificationCorrective ActionsCollaborationAuditsmulti-location

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