Principal Product Quality Engineer

About Epirus Epirus is a high-growth technology company dedicated to overcoming the asymmetric challenges inherent to the future of national security. Epirus' flagship product, Leonidas, is a software-defined system built using intelligent power management techniques which allow power-hungry systems to do more with less.     Job Summary: This is an exciting Principal Product Quality Engineer role with an innovative, high-growth defense technology company. The ideal candidate for the position is an agile, collaborative, and hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and can balance technical rigor with agility to support growth initiatives. As an external and internal facing leader, you are a skilled communicator who can translate Epirus' quality expectations to all parties with a hands-on approach to problem solving and process improvement. This role will serve as the technical authority for product quality partnering closely with design, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management to ensure robust, reliable, and mission-ready products. You will architect and implement scalable quality systems, drive risk-based decision making, and embed quality into the product lifecycle focusing on new product development, design assurance, and reliability.    Responsibilities:  New Product Introduction (NPI) Lead quality planning and execution for NPI programs from concept through production ramp Establish and deploy advanced quality mechanisms in the product development process to drive production readiness Drive and support implementation of design reviews, process readiness reviews, and production readiness gates Ensure effective transfer from engineering to manufacturing with robust control plans Verify effectiveness of actions and share lessons learned across product and programs Design Assurance Own and drive Design for Quality (DfQ) principles across engineering teams Support and implement risk management activities including DFMEA, PFMEA, and hazard analyses Ensure requirements are traceable to applicable customer, program and industry requirements with robust and effective verification/validation plans Partner with engineering to define critical-to-quality (CTQ) and/or key characteristics and acceptance criteria Influence design decisions using data, reliability modeling, and failure analysis Reliability Partner with engineering to develop and execute product reliability strategies and test plans Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for design, integration, and test failures Establish reliability metrics/targets and track performance over time Drive failure reporting, analysis, and corrective action systems (FRACAS) Quality Strategy Build scalable and modular processes aligned with AS9100 and customer requirements to support rapid growth initiatives Develop metrics and dashboards to analyze trends to monitor and improve quality performance. Serve as the technical interface for customers and regulatory audits related to product quality Mentor engineers and build a culture of proactive quality ownership Cross-Functional Leadership Act as the bridge between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams Influence without authority in a high-growth, ambiguous environment Support supplier quality and ensure external partners meet design and reliability standards Collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to drive system wide quality initiatives to meet quality and reliability objectives Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering, or related field 8+ years of experience in quality, manufacturing, or engineering working in aerospace/defense or similar regulated and/or complex hardware environments Experience leading cross-functional teams to solve highly visibility quality issues, drive continual improvement initiatives, and facilitate the adoption of quality requirements in the product development process Familiarity with system integration and test for complex applications Strong proficiency in root cause analysis, failure analysis, reliability testing, and problem-solving methodologies Strong background in NPI and transitioning products from development to production Knowledge of quality management system standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, and/or other similar standards Knowledge of advanced quality mechanisms and principles utilizing an APQP framework (DFMEA, PFMEA, etc) Experience using data analysis tools to identify trends and establish metrics using SPC and issue/defect management systems. Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and drive improvements in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills and Experience: Advanced degree in engineering or related discipline Certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Auditor or Six Sigma Working knowledge of Agile based development processes Strong understanding of electronics, complex assemblies, system integration and test Expertise in reliability modeling and statistical analysis Familiarity with MIL-STD testing standards and environmental qualification Experience supporting FRACAS and reliability growth programs Experience with Oracle ERP and QMS software implementation/execution. Additional Requirements: Ability to travel up to 25% as needed.   ITAR REQUIREMENTS:   To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.    At Epirus, you’ll work with technical peers and great people—and get first crack at some of the defining technology challenges of our time. Here, “impossible” is just a challenge. We're a diverse, fast-growing team of change-makers fueling the future of energy with revolutionary solutions. https://www.epirusinc.com/open-roles   As required by the Equal Pay Transparency Act, Epirus provides a reasonable range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific office location. For the state of California only, the range of starting pay for this role is: $139,300—$160,000 USD Offices: Torrance, California, United States (Torrance, California);