Erik G. Li
Director of Quality
Monterey Park,California
Summary
Senior Aerospace Leader | Space Vehicle Production & Quality | Scaling Hardware from First Article to Fleet
14+ years driving end-to-end manufacturing and quality operations across space, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Proven ability to lead large teams, scale production lines, reduce costs, and deliver on aggressive takt time goals. Strong business acumen with a track record of CapEx/OpEx management, ERP optimization, and operational excellence. Expert in building high-performing teams, aligning production with business strategy, and driving continuous improvement.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr Principal Operations Engineer
Northrop Grumman, Space Sector
Redondo Beach, California
05.2021 - 06.2024
- Implemented data-driven decision-making processes to enhance overall business performance and profitability.
- Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives (Mission Assurance, Business Leadership, Data Science) to architect and implement scalable, AI-driven solutions, establishing an agile, data-informed decision-making framework across the Space Systems division to enhance manufacturing scalability.
- Directed Kaizen initiatives, improving weld first pass yield from 75% to 90% through process optimization.
- Led independent review teams to resolve >$2M quality failures through root cause analyses and corrective measures.
- Architected and executed the migration of a critical process tailoring database, integrating risk management and enhancing operational efficiency to accelerate rapid iteration in program development cycles.
- Led the development Tableau dashboards to improve production metrics transparency and streamline associated processes.
- Implemented a data-driven decision framework, advancing digital transformation with SQDEC, QMS, and KPI integration.
- Oversaw high-ROI process improvements, boosting manufacturability, schedule adherence, and cost efficiency.
- Chaired the Qualification Review Board, enforcing reliability standards for new manufacturing processes and materials.
- Managed hardware testing and discrepancy investigations, driving quality and operational excellence.
- Managed large-scale projects from inception to completion, ensuring adherence to budget constraints and timeline requirements.
Quality Manager
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
Hawthorne, California
01.2019 - 05.2021
- Owned the transition from R&D to high-rate production by building and leading a 48-person team, establishing the stable manufacturing environment required to deliver human-rated spacecraft to the ISS.
- Accelerated production cadence and reduced rework by driving First Pass Yield from 85% to 94% during critical vehicle scaling.
- Enabled rapid production ramp-up by slashing team onboarding time by 67% (from 12 to 4 weeks), ensuring staffing levels met aggressive vehicle build targets.
- Instituted a culture of continuous improvement and quality excellence, adhering to AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards, through rigorous floor/process/safety audits, reinforcing compliance and operational excellence.
- Cultivated staff excellence leadership development programs, crucial for building and scaling effective teams and leaders.
- Allocated inspection resources across 14 diverse manufacturing departments, navigating high-volume inspections and production demands within stringent schedules, ensuring safety, schedule, cost, and launch success to ISS missions.
- Spearheaded Lean Six Sigma initiatives that significantly enhanced production efficiency and reduced critical non-conformances through strategic cross-functional collaboration, essential for optimizing high-rate production.
- Managed root cause analysis investigations, determining underlying issues in product failures and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
- Managed and archived quality documentation and participated in internal and external quality audits.
Quality Supervisor, Falcon 9 Production
Space Exploration Technologies
Hawthorne, California
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Managed the inspection team of 25 direct reports for the manufacturing of the Falcon 9 First and Second stage vehicles from subassemblies Final Integration, launch of the Falcon 9 vehicles, and refurbishment department for west coast Flown Booster.
- Established West Coast Falcon 9 booster quality team, leading full teardown and inspection for reusability.
- Improved inspection pass rate by 30%, cutting 52 labor hours weekly through workflow optimization.
- Reduced inspection wait times from 40 minutes to 15 minutes through continuous process improvement projects with the team to develop solutions build and process inefficiencies.
- Conducted the first full inspection teardown of an orbital-class flown booster, setting new standards for refurbishment.
- Collaborated with production and engineering to drive continuous quality and manufacturing process improvements to meet a 14-day takt time per vehicle.
- Audited production processes and workflow for compliance with NASA, MIL, aerospace standards.
Quality Specialist / Inspector
Space Exploration Technologies
Hawthorne, California
03.2016 - 12.2018
- Continuously lead lean six sigma, 5S, and A3 problem solving projects to improve quality inspection methods and quality processes. Audited quality processes by analyzing ERP data through custom generated SQL queries.
- Conducted hands-on inspections on the launch vehicle subassemblies, sub-structures, primary metallic structures, and final integration inspections including Non-Destructive Testing (NDE), Orbital Tube Welding (OTW), Class 1 Clean, Harness Routing, Paint, COPV, and Propulsion System inspections.
- Optimized inspection and build efficiency using ERP data, reducing quality escapes by leading a Six Sigma project for Falcon 9 production.
- Ensured compliance with drawings, CAD models, work orders, and design specifications through detailed in-process inspections.
- Identified and resolved production non-conformances, providing feedback to correct inefficient or incorrect processes.
- Assisted in the implementation of a continuous improvement culture, contributing to company-wide improvements in productivity and waste reduction.
- Developed comprehensive quality control documentation, standardizing procedures across all departments and promoting consistency.
Mechanical Engineer
Boeing Defense, Space, & Security
Cleveland, Ohio
05.2013 - 12.2015
- Developed, tested, and qualified the Thrust Vector Controls (TVC) subsystem components for the redesign of the Space Shuttle RS-25 engines for integration into the NASA SLS Core Stage with the performance that supports the vehicle’s flight load requirements.
- Developed and qualified Thrust Vector Controls (TVC) components for the NASA SLS Core Stage.
- Supported root cause analysis and design changes for subsystem test failures.
- Reviewed and established qualification requirement documentation for critical system components.
- Developed Request For Proposals for NASA engineering contracts for SLS Payload adapters and Fairings.
- Generated system concepts to satisfy product requirements.
- Evaluated final product's overall performance, reliability and safety.
Program Manager
Energy Experts International, Pacific Gas & Electric
San Jose, California
03.2011 - 01.2012
- Strategically lead a 9-member team to inspect and repair 16,000 gas risers for cathodic protection.
- Coordinated efficient inspection plans leading to.
- Successfully reduced project costs by cutting 2,100 man-hours, completing the project two months early.
- Managed and supervised administrative and daily program operations, complying with policies and regulations.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring support for program initiatives.
Education
B.S. - Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
08.2011
Security Clearance
Top Secret
Timeline
Sr Principal Operations Engineer
Northrop Grumman, Space Sector
05.2021 - 06.2024
Quality Manager
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
01.2019 - 05.2021
Quality Supervisor, Falcon 9 Production
Space Exploration Technologies
01.2018 - 01.2019
Quality Specialist / Inspector
Space Exploration Technologies
03.2016 - 12.2018
Mechanical Engineer
Boeing Defense, Space, & Security
05.2013 - 12.2015
Program Manager
Energy Experts International, Pacific Gas & Electric
03.2011 - 01.2012
B.S. - Aerospace Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
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