Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 1,800 employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Draper is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We understand the value of diversity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.

The Product assurance Group Leader will lead a multi-disciplinary group that is responsible for ensuring the integrity of Draper's deliverable products. The Group Leader is the first-level of engineering management and requires the ability to apply sound engineering and management principles for technical hands-on leadership of a group of approximately 18 technical staff with expertise in product assurance including calibration and metrology.

Specific responsibilities include:

Working with the System Modeling and Assurance Division Leader to support the career development, growth, and project assignments of the Group's staff
• Develop, establish, and maintain product assurance programs, procedures and controls for internal and external hardware manufacturing to ensure conformance of product quality to customer and company requirements.
• Management of staff tasked with calibrating measuring tools/instruments;
• Management of staff tasked with conducting visual, mechanical, and optical/non-contact inspections of parts, subassemblies and deliverable products per internal policies and procedures;
• Hiring of staff as needed to support the group's mission.

In addition to the Group Leader responsibilities, the candidate could also be a direct contributor to projects and business development activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of production processes and applying quality principles to ensure product meets company standards before moving to the next phase
• Practical with strong theoretical foundation of Quality, how it impacts Product Reliability and Utility
• Strong problem solving skills such as process mapping and root cause analysis
• Direct experience with establishing SPC programs in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of electronic industry IPC standards such as IPC-A-610C&D
• Lead and participate in Supplier Quality Audits
• Drive continuous improvement process for product developers and suppliers
• Review in-progress product designs for robustness, process, and compliance to company's product requirements.
• Experience assessing operational equipment needs and capital equipment purchases.
• Strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience driving/supporting material requirement flow down, acceptance, and nonconformance management processes for externally sourced components and assemblies of various commodity types.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, math, or science
• Operational and/or managerial experience with all aspects of product assurance
• Prior experience managing and mentoring employees

Security Requirement:

• The ability to obtain and/or maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance is required

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