Director, Quality Engineering & AI Integration

Job Title: Director Quality Engineering & AI Integration

Job Code: 35615

Job Location: Huntsville AL Camden AR Orange VA Canoga Park CA Mason OH or Amityville NY

Job Schedule: Varies By Location

Job Description:

As the Director of Quality Engineering for L3Harris Missile Solutions Segment you will serve as the Chief Quality Engineer across all 16 sites in the Missile Solutions sites. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving technical quality excellence process standardization risk-based engineering approaches and the development and deployment of application-specific AI tools to enhance quality engineering capabilities efficiency and predictive performance.

You will oversee a distributed team while spearheading innovative AI initiativessuch as AI-driven defect detection predictive quality analytics automated root cause analysis inspection data processing and process optimizationto support high-reliability missile propulsion precision strike hypersonics seekers fuzes sensors and related systems. This position is instrumental in accelerating production ramp-ups achieving zero-defect goals and advancing mission assurance for critical DoD programs in a multi-site high-growth environment.

Essential Functions:

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for Quality Engineering across all 16 Missile Solutions sites ensuring standardized best-in-class practices and tools.

• Lead recruitment development mentoring and performance management of a multi-site Quality Engineering team in a distributed matrixed organization.

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide quality engineering strategies policies and processes in alignment with AS9100 DoD/customer requirements and business objectives.

• Oversee core quality engineering functions: design assurance PFMEA/APQP/PPAP SPC GD&T MSA risk-based quality planning and verification/validation across product lifecycles.

• Drive enterprise standardization of quality engineering methods metrics and continuous improvement (Lean Six Sigma) to boost first-time yield reduce defects and lower cost of poor quality.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering Manufacturing Program Management Supply Chain and Test teams to embed quality engineering in design development production and sustainment.

• Lead advanced problem-solving and corrective/preventive actions (e.g. 8D fishbone Pareto) for technical issues ensuring systemic prevention across sites.

• Establish and report enterprise-level quality engineering KPIs dashboards and performance insights to senior leadership for mission assurance and risk management.

• Develop and deploy application-specific AI toolsto empower the Quality Engineering team including AI for predictive defect identification real-time process monitoring automated inspection analysis (e.g. computer vision for NDT/ultrasonic data) anomaly detection in manufacturing data predictive quality forecasting and intelligent root cause analysiswhile ensuring compliance with defense regulations and data security standards.

• Champion adoption of AI-enhanced quality practices to support production scaling reduce manual effort and enable proactive quality interventions in high-stakes missile programs.

• Manage internal/external audits customer/government quality engagements and full compliance with ITAR FAR/DFARS export controls and other requirements.

• Up to 25% business travel for site support audits program reviews team leadership and AI tool implementation across the 18 locations.

• Ability to obtain US Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree and minimum 15 years of prior quality experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 13 years of prior related quality lieu of a degree minimum of 19 years of prior related quality experience.

• 10 years of progressive experience in quality engineering technical quality or related roles within aerospace defense propulsion or high-reliability manufacturing industries.

• 10 years of hands-on expertise in quality engineering disciplines such as design assurance process validation SPC GD&T APQP/PPAP PFMEA root cause analysis (8D/5-Why) and statistical methods.

• 8 years of leadership experience managing quality engineering teams including multi-site or distributed organizations in complex defense/aerospace environments.

• 5 years of experience leading quality engineering for manufacturing ramp-ups process improvements new product introductions or high-reliability programs in regulated industries.

• 3 years demonstrated experience developing implementing or leading adoption of AI/ML tools applications or data-driven solutions in quality manufacturing inspection or engineering contexts (e.g. predictive analytics computer vision for defect detection automated process monitoring or AI-augmented root cause analysis).

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Proven ability to drive enterprise-wide standardization continuous improvement and change management in multi-site environments with strong influencing and executive communication skills.

• Excellent collaboration communication and presentation abilities to engage cross-functional teams senior leadership customers and suppliers.

• Experience in missile systems solid rocket motors hypersonics seekers/sensors fuzes or related precision defense technologies.

• Hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g. Palantir Foundry or industry platforms) applied to quality engineering non-destructive testing (NDT) or manufacturing data analysis.

• Professional certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) Six Sigma Black Belt or AI/ML-related credentials (e.g. Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner).

• Background with DoD missile propulsion/programs high-volume production scaling legacy Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris operations or AI initiatives in aerospace/defense quality.

• Familiarity with distributed leadership in multi-site environments supporting surge capacity for national defense priorities.

• Proficient in MS Word Excel PowerPoint.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements the salary range for this role in California Massachusetts New Jersey Washington and the Greater D.C Denver or NYC areas is $167000.00 - $310000.00. The salary range for this role in Colorado state Hawaii Illinois Maryland Minnesota New York state Cleveland Ohio and Vermont is $145500.00 - $270500.00. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits including health and disability insurance 401(k) match flexible spending accounts EAP education assistance parental leave paid time off and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire schedule type and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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