Responsibilities
Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams through vehicle development to create quality plans for hardware, including identification of key characteristics, prototype testing for functionality, and manufacturability, defining first article inspection requirements, and consideration of past failures and lessons learned
You will be responsible for defining methods for inspection of components to internal and industry standards to determine part conformity.
Investigate failures in manufacturing, test, and flight, identifying and mitigating the immediate and underlying root causes in order to reduce risk and improve the reliability of designs and processes
Determine and document appropriate Quality Management System requirements around traceability, non-conformance, and configuration management for the program and work with IT/QMS software teams to build and test the applications to enforce said requirements
You will support the Quality Management System policies and procedure documentation and participate in continual improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
Own and manage the “containment” process. You will contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities while driving the NCR process.
Develop, implement, and validate Lean test and inspection processes for new and existing products and processes, ensuring that criteria are objective and that quality goals are consistently met
Confirm operational safety precautions are considered and identified per area planning standards
You will assist in driving & measuring the closure on nonconformance disposition and MRB (material review board) resolution.
You will provide engineer-level support to Inspectors and serve as an escalation path for identifying and mitigating any risks.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, or engineering physics
3+ years in a manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering role
Experience working in a development environment
Experience supporting the production of complex mechanical/structural assemblies required.
Demonstrated understanding of CAD and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
Knowledge of quality tools such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem-solving approaches.
Ability to attain security clearance
Ability to work directly with the hardware on the production floor and will have to be comfortable stooping, bending, lifting and standing.
US-Person Status required.
Ability to work on-site in El Segundo, CA, area and travel up to ~25%.
Preferred Skills and Experience
Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team’s spirit of innovation and mission of improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
Experience with low and high-volume manufacturing, design for manufacture and product development life cycle, or quality tools including root cause and corrective action, PFMEAs, QMS and process controls & auditing and statistical analysis of quality metrics
Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes
Previous Quality or Reliability Engineering in an aerospace environment
Previous experience leading and/or closely supporting a team of inspectors
Experience with AS9100, AS6500, and/or Nadcap
The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.
At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.
- Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
- Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
- Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
- Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, materials, manufacturing, chemical, or electrical engineering, or engineering physics
- At least 3 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, and/or design engineering
- Experience working in a development environment
- Experience supporting production of complex mechanical or structural assemblies
- Demonstrated understanding of CAD and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
- Knowledge of Lean principles, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, corrective action, APQP, metrology, PFMEA, control plans, and problem-solving methods
- Ability to attain a security clearance
- Ability to work directly with hardware on a production floor, including stooping, bending, lifting, and standing
- U.S.-person status or eligibility for deemed export licensing
- Ability to work on-site in the El Segundo, California area
- Experience with low- and high-volume manufacturing, design for manufacture, product development lifecycle, QMS, process controls, auditing, PFMEAs, root cause and corrective action, or statistical quality analysis
- Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes
- Previous quality or reliability engineering experience in aerospace
- Experience leading or closely supporting a team of inspectors
- Experience with AS9100, AS6500, and/or Nadcap
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
Hermeus Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hermeus and has not been reviewed or approved by Hermeus.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare is described as employer-paid for employees and dependents, including dental and vision. Feedback suggests this substantially reduces healthcare burden and strengthens overall total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The package includes unlimited PTO for exempt employees, generous accrued PTO for non‑exempt staff, and observed federal holidays. Feedback suggests this breadth aims to support work‑life balance.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock options are guaranteed with all full‑time offers, with potential for additional grants based on performance. Feedback suggests this provides ownership upside alongside base pay and bonuses.
Hermeus Insights
What We Do
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and test of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. Working directly with the Department of Defense, Hermeus delivers capabilities that will ensure that our nation, and our allies, maintain an asymmetric advantage over any and all potential adversaries. Utilizing an integrated, hardware-rich, iterative development approach to aircraft design and build, Hermeus aims to deliver advanced air power at a pace not seen in the U.S. since the 1950s. Hermeus’ current Quarterhorse Program is actively unlocking unmanned high-speed flight. One program, four aircraft – each purpose-built to unlock a specific technical challenge, advance learnings, and incrementally de-risk critical technology in the pursuit of hypersonic aircraft. Today, Hermeus is building its second Quarterhorse vehicle, Mk 2, after having designed, built, and flight tested its predecessor, Mk 1, in 18 months. Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3+, Quarterhorse Mk 2 will be the fastest uncrewed military aircraft in service for national defense. The final iteration of Quarterhorse, Mk 4, will be capable of transitioning from turbofan to ramjet mode utilizing a Hermeus-developed turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to achieve sustained speeds of Mach 5+. Hermeus' approach of build-fly-build lays the groundwork for unlocking hypersonic flight at a pace and cost previously deemed impossible. America needs fast planes fast – and Hermeus is delivering them.
Why Work With Us
We prioritize hardware and people. Cutting-edge technology is only made possible by bringing together a world-class team. At Hermeus, you will be challenged – but also empowered. We encourage calculated risks taking and learning from our mistakes. Iteration is the name of the game.
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