Quality Engineer Intern

About Vanderhorst Brothers and RTC Aerospace: 

This position is for RTC Aerospace's sister company, Vanderhorst Brothers, Inc. (VBI) located in Simi Valley, CA. VBI is a team of highly skilled professionals from a variety of backgrounds. We work together to support our customers through expertise, cooperation, innovation, and a shared sense of urgency. We actively seek challenging projects, and we drive our industry forward by investing in the latest machinery, technology, and production techniques. 

RTC Aerospace is a 60-year-old aerospace manufacturer of complex, high-tolerance, difficult-to-machine parts. We have 4 facilities across the nation bringing exceptional cellular manufacturing capabilities and unique engineered solutions to our clients' designed products. We are a company driven by ambitious individuals, working together to become an industry leader in lean-cell manufacturing. Come be a part of something exceptional at RTC Aerospace 

How You'll Make an Impact 

At RTC, we believe in teamwork, excellence, and delivering with pride.  One Team One Mission

The Quality Engineer Intern will assist the Quality and Engineering teams in identifying, documenting, and reducing sources of rework and variability within the manufacturing process. This internship provides hands-on experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment with a focus on process improvement, root cause analysis, and standardization. The intern will collaborate closely with Quality, Engineering, and Production personnel to develop visual work standards, improve consistency, and enhance overall product quality.

What you'll be doing as a Quality Engineer Intern:

• Working a Full-time, onsite position at our Simi Valley, CA location.
• Visual Standards Development: Create clear, visual work aids for specific parts or families of parts to help standardize expectations and reduce variability in workmanship.
• Rework and Process Analysis: Support efforts to identify, document, and measure rework activities across production. Help capture "hidden factory" work that may be unrecorded and propose improvements to prevent recurrence.
• Operational Drawings & Technical Documentation: Assist in developing or updating operational drawings using SolidWorks and other documentation tools to support inspection and production clarity.
• Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA): Work with cross-functional teams to analyze recurring nonconformances, assist in identifying root causes, and document corrective/preventive actions.
• Quality Data Support: Participate in data collection and trend analysis on scrap, rework, and inspection results to support decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Process Alignment: Collaborate with Engineering and Deburr/Inspection Leads to align expectations and standardize best practices between departments.
• Continuous Improvement Projects: Contribute to initiatives aimed at improving inspection processes, documentation, and quality flow—such as 5S implementation, process audits, or visual management tools.
• Safety & Compliance: Follow all company safety guidelines and maintain compliance with aerospace quality standards (AS9100, ISO 9001).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications (Education, skills, and experience):

• Currently pursuing or recently completed Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and maintain attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, skills, and experience):

• Basic understanding of quality principles, manufacturing processes, and inspection methods.
• Experience or coursework in CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, visual management, or 5S concepts.
• Exposure to ERP or quality management systems (JobBOSS, IQMS, etc.).
• Prior internship or project work in an aerospace or precision manufacturing environment.
• Interest in data collection, problem-solving, and process improvement initiatives

Physical Demands:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following:

• Ability to lift or move up to 50lbs.
• Reach forward, up, down and to the side in order to move equipment.
• Continuous standing and walking throughout the workday.
• Ability to reach with hands and arms; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel material.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.

Work Environment: 

A large percentage of work time is spent in a machine shop where temperatures vary from hot to cold. The environment may also include exposure to noise, dust, fumes, vapor from coolant, etc. Industry standard safety equipment is provided by the Company, and specific notice is posted in areas where safety equipment is required.

Compensation and Benefits: 

Employee Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, long-term disability and 401(k) with up to 6% QACA company match. 

The Quality Engineer Intern Compensation range for onsite California applicants is $20-$21/hour commensurate with experience. Some shifts may include shift differential pay rates. Other site ranges may differ.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

This position must meet Export Control compliance requirements, therefore a "US Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R.  § is required. 

RTC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on RTC's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact the RTC Human Resources Department. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the RTC Human Resources Department. Candidates will receive consideration without discrimination in accordance with the requirements of article 9 to chapter XVIII of the City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, federal and state laws of California.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Human Resources Department.