Associate Process Engineer Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
The Quality Engineer (QE) ensures delivered product quality for our customers and drives effective quality controls across the product lifecycle. In this role, the QE performs a range of technical quality engineering assignments, solves moderately complex problems using established methods and procedures, and partners with program and product teams to reduce cost and flow disruptions, implement visual factory KPIs, and lead problem reporting and corrective actions for nonconformances. The QE supports both customer-facing quality activities and internal product quality and may provide informal guidance to Associate Quality Engineers and Quality Technicians.
Position Responsibilities
Quality Planning and Engineering
• Develop and maintain quality assurance and quality control plans.
• Define and document quality metrics, basic testing methods, and inspection procedures to support adherence to quality standards throughout the product lifecycle.
• Review manufacturing planning and work instructions to ensure alignment to quality control points and data collection.
• Coordinate day-to-day work with Quality Technicians and inspectors as directed to support inspections and data collection.
• Support basic process capability activities on key characteristics and help maintain Inspection and Quality Plans.
• Independently verify that product acceptance criteria are correctly applied and aligned to documented customer requirements, seeking guidance when criteria are unclear.
• Work with senior engineers in reviewing customer contracts and purchase orders to understand and help flow down quality requirements. Support collaboration with customer representatives as requested. Collaborate with engineering teams to understand and apply quality requirements, specifications, and standards for new product development.
• Provide basic input to design teams on manufacturability and assembly considerations from a quality perspective, drawing on established standards and guidance from senior staff.
• Support risk assessments on designs by gathering data and documenting potential quality and reliability risks identified by more senior engineers.
• Participate in the preparation and maintenance of FMEA documentation and similar risk_analysis tools.
• Participate in Product Readiness Reviews (PRR) and support Final Inspection activities (e.g., preparing documentation, collecting data, coordinating with inspectors).
• Perform review of engineering specifications to check for the inclusion of required quality and reliability requirements.
• Support quality's contribution to APQP activities by maintaining documentation, tracking deliverables, and helping ensure quality requirements are captured in design and manufacturing processes.
• Provide assistance in implementing quality enhancement strategies (e.g., updating checklists, work instructions) and applying workmanship criteria under guidance.
• Support internal and supplier audit activities (e.g., collecting objective evidence, documenting findings, tracking closure) related to quality management systems, purchasing, contract review, and manufacturing processes.
• Collect and summarize internal and external quality performance data and identify basic trends to support improvement initiatives.
Defect Management and Corrective Action
• Document and track defects in the Quality Management System, prioritizing issues based on defined criteria, and work with engineering and operations teams to track corrective actions to closure.
• Support investigations into product and process nonconformances, field issues, and test escapes by gathering data, reproducing issues, and applying basic problem_solving tools (e.g., 5_Why, fishbone diagrams) under the guidance of more experienced engineers.
• Organize and Participate in the Material Review Board (MRB) process for nonconforming product by preparing MRB packages, recording dispositions, and ensuring documentation is complete and accurate.
• Support cross_functional MRB meetings (Quality, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain) by documenting discussions, recording actions, and tracking completion of assigned tasks.
• Monitor and update MRB and disposition metrics (e.g., defect counts, cycle time) and provide summarized reports to help identify opportunities to reduce nonconformance.
• Facilitate corrective action and failure analysis activities by collecting data, organizing test results, and helping track action item status to ensure timely closure.
• Review basic data analysis and statistical summaries (e.g., Pareto charts, control charts with guidance) to help identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)
• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline and a minimum of 2 years of related experience; or an advanced degree without experience; or equivalent work experience.
• Working knowledge and hands_on experience with quality tools and concepts such as DMAIC, FMEA, APQP, SPC, Gage R&R, or lean manufacturing, demonstrated through prior roles or projects.
• Awareness of quality management system concepts; exposure to ISO 9001, AS9100, or similar standards is preferred but not required.
• Fundamental understanding of engineering drawings and tolerances; familiarity with dimensional inspection concepts and GD&T is desirable but can be developed on the job.
• Ability to collect and organize data using spreadsheets or basic statistical tools, and to follow established procedures for problem identification and corrective action.
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn use of quality testing equipment, measurement tools, and inspection techniques.
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
• Demonstrates initiative to learn and follow quality processes efficiently; seeks guidance and feedback from more senior engineers.
• Able to follow instructions, ask clarifying questions, and apply existing procedures to routine technical assignments and standard problems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate straightforward information clearly within the team.
• Strong organizational, time_management, and basic problem_solving skills; able to manage own task list and meet assigned deadlines.
• Ability to work well as an individual contributor on assigned tasks and as a supportive member of a cross_functional team.
• Comfortable working in a fast_paced, deadline_driven environment where small teams share a broad variety of duties, with appropriate guidance from senior staff.
• Displays motivation and a growth mindset; committed to learning from feedback and continuously improving performance.
• Takes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of assigned work products and follows through on commitments.
• Demonstrates proficiency with MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Access or similar tools a plus).
• Embraces teamwork and collaboration, focusing on contributing to team objectives and supporting colleagues.
• Willing to be mentored by senior engineers and to build foundational knowledge in quality engineering concepts, tools, and standards.
• Willing to support interactions with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Program Management to help ensure quality requirements are understood and executed, with oversight from senior quality staff.
Physical Demands
• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
• Regularly required to stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)
Clearance Level
No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$74,500 - $113,500
AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.
ITAR Requirement:
This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.
Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
About AV:
AV isn't for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.
We don't just build defense technology-we redefine what's possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.
Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian-but we're not building history, we're building what's next.
If you're ready to build technology that matters-with speed, scale, and purpose-there's no better place to do it than AV.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.
ITAR
U.S. Citizenship required