Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (SQAE)

Purpose

• To review maintenance procedures and work instructions, supervise QA Engineers, conduct audits and investigations in order to ensure an airworthy, reliable, quality product/service is provided in a cost-effective manner. To ensure that technical staff work within the framework of the Kenya airways company procedures, and to coordinate and conduct company approval exams through the Quality Assessment Board for the Engineers applying for company authorization and recommend, or otherwise to Head of Quality for issue of authorizations. To satisfy the requirements of KCAA/EASA Part 145 and related requirements.

Responsibilities

• Come up with planned internal audits plans or programs; surveillance/ inspections/spot checks audit plans/program, in liaison with Principal Quality Assurance Engineer (PQAE) & follow up for execution.
• Carry out audits; surveillance/inspections/spot checks as per audit program/assignment.
• Ensure planned audits; surveillance/inspections/spot checks findings are timely followed up for responses, feedback is verified before effective timely closures are done.
• Monitor the effectiveness of any corrective action(s) based on the feedback.
• Provide independent assessment of findings corrective actions, implementation & completion.
• Ensure feedback from maintenance/technical findings and subsequently feeding these back to the Technical Training to incorporate it into the continuation training programme.
• Coordinating action on SAFA findings, RAMP inspections/airworthiness inspections, customer aircraft surveys/inspections and initiating provision of root causes, corrective actions, review of such feedback, providing such effective feedback on root causes/corrective actions/closures and follow-up to ensure effective closures.
• Handling & follow up on external planned audits including those of CAA, certification bodies, customers to ensure successful execution; timely & effective feedback on any findings/issues raised.
• Coordinate and conduct approval exams for technician, certifying staff, support staff and non-aircraft authorized staff who have applied for various aircraft/component/equipment approval categories for purposes of recommendation of issuance/rejection of Kenya Airways authorizations.
• Ensure review and processing of staff authorization renewal applications, including accurate and timely update of records of certifying or support or authorized staff.
• Ensure support in AOC aircraft certificates ie. Certificate of Registration; Certificate of Airworthiness; Radio license etcs timely issuance & renewal.
• Coordinate, process and review applications for aircraft or aircraft components capability Inclusion.
• Supervise initial issue of AMO etcs certificates and their subsequent renewals.
• Review/ensure review of vendor application requests and recommend appropriate actions, prepare vendor authorization certificates and manage the approved vendor listing.
• Ensure support in applicable aircraft dispensations, concessions, and extensions.
• Ensure all KCAA related requests are handled accordingly.
• Monitor changes in applicable regulatory or certification requirements/standards and review and initiate necessary actions(s).
• Ensure update/update quality database with current regulatory or certification requirements/standards.
• Review AMO manuals to match with regulatory requirements/standards etc.
• Ensure that reported MORs, ASRs, CSRs are handled according to the roster.
• Follow up on reporting to all relevant bodies such as CAA, customers, OEMs and closure of reported MORs, ASRs, CSRs, incidents or occurrences.
• Review and follow up on closure of office hazards, near misses, health & safety issues.
• Supervise & ensure preparation of quality communications and produce reports for dissemination to relevant audience.
• Review & provide related performance during weekly & related sectional & other related meetings.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Mentor and show direction guidance/mentoring, motivation, give guidance for staff under him/her.
• Review & provide related performance during weekly & related sectional & other related meetings.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Mentor and show direction guidance, motivation, give guidance for staff under him/her.

Skills

• Effective communication skills
• Proven supervisory skills
• Basic audit process and root cause analysis skills
• Basic root cause analysis skills
• Proven Management skills.
• Project Management skills
• Procedure writing skills
• Report writing skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in Aeronautical/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics Engineering
• Must have completed Quality Management System (QMS) training.
• Must have completed Audit Techniques training. 
• Is current on human factors and Safety management systems trainings.
• Have at least 1 aircraft type training or 1 component training.
• Knowledge in using standard aircraft manuals and engineering procedures manual.
• Conversant with all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Basic Knowledge of audit process and root cause analysis.
• Must have attended team leadership training.
• Must have relevant engineering degree with at least 4 years aviation engineering experience with at least 2 years in quality OR
• Must have Diploma in relevant Engineering field with at least 6 years aviation maintenance experience with at least 2 years in quality.
• Knowledge in using standard aircraft manuals and engineering procedures manual
• Fully conversant with relevant technical procedures
• Fully conversant with all relevant regulatory requirements
• Conversant with relevant IT Tools and Systems
• Has knowledge in statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing.
• Knowledge of Industrial Safety Standards.
• Has participated in issuance of variations and dispensations/extensions.
• Has participated in aircraft certificate(s) issuance and renewal process.
• Successfully carried out audits as a Lead Auditor.
• Experience in closures of external (regulatory / customers) audit findings.
• Experience in product audits.
• Knowledge of contracts