Senior Principal Quality Engineer

Senior Principal Quality Engineer – BAE Systems, Inc.

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How does it feel to work on a team driven to make a big impact? Empowering. BAE Systems is looking for a seasoned Senior Principal Quality Engineer. In this role, you will serve as a senior tactical and strategic leader responsible for driving quality performance across cross‑functional teams, developing systems for long‑term success, and mentoring others. This role expands upon traditional quality engineering responsibilities to include stakeholder engagement, advanced risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives, with an emphasis on best practice sharing and leadership in Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) methodologies.

• Technical & Program Support
  • Lead in-depth analysis of quality metrics and trends to identify systemic issues and improvement opportunities.
  • Guide complex defect investigations and resolution through advanced RCCA techniques (e.g., 5‑Whys, Fishbone, 8D).
  • Participate in and lead audits, CARs, and containment actions.
  • Develop and maintain control plans, inspection plans, and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEAs).
  • Support BOE development and delivery; collaborate on programmatic quality planning.
  • Proactively identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions to improve performance and results.
• Strategic & Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Lead cross‑functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, and supplier quality.
  • Facilitate contract review and manage risk mitigation strategies.
  • Develop contractual quality requirements, compliance frameworks, and procedures.
  • Drive continuous improvement through Lean Six Sigma methodologies (Green Belt/Certified Lean Practitioner preferred).
  • Lead and facilitate Corrective Action Boards and stakeholder‑level RCA sessions.
  • Serve as a designated quality leader in cross‑functional reviews and tiered support structures.
• Mentorship, Communication & Reporting
  • Deliver mentoring.
  • Develop PFMEA, GD&T, and control plans.
  • Share best practices across teams; document lessons learned.
  • Support training programs for operators and peers (may include face‑to‑face or remote).
  • Provide tactical and strategic reporting to leadership and external stakeholders.
  • Represent quality function in customer and internal reviews; resolve escalated quality issues.
  • Promote a culture of inspection readiness and continuous improvement.

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline, or the overall equivalent.
• Eight (8)+ years of experience in quality engineering with increasing leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional teams and improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency in advanced RCCA methods, contract interpretation, and risk mitigation.
• Strong communication skills for presenting to leadership and customers.
• Green Belt or Lean Practitioner certification preferred.
• Ability to audit and evaluate process effectiveness across business units.

• Previous experience working with DCMA, ISEA, or other government agencies.
• Previous experience with SUBSAFE and/or NAVSEA requirements.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Confident facilitator and mentor; capable of guiding junior engineers and operators.
• Proactive in identifying and managing risk across programs and suppliers.
• Comfortable interacting with customers, contracts, and compliance teams.
• Committed to driving Return on Investment (ROI) through process excellence and quality‑first leadership.

Full‑time Salary Range: $120,874 – $205,486.

Please note:

This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

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