Aerospace Quality Auditor: Impactful QA & Compliance Lead

GKN Aerospace company; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace seeks a detail-driven Contract Internal Auditor to plan and perform quality management system and product quality audits within an aerospace manufacturing environment.

You will evaluate conformity to AS9100, applicable regulatory and customer requirements, and internal procedures; verify that products and production records meet defined requirements; document objective evidence; and support timely, sustainable corrective action.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing quality, including direct audit, inspection, quality engineering, or quality systems experience.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements and the ability to translate requirements into an audit plan and objective-evidence trail.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing manufacturing and inspection documentation, technical drawings, specifications, and product acceptance records.
• Ability to write clear, factual, and defensible audit findings and reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and electronic quality/document management systems.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical judgment, and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain independent and objective when auditing assigned activities.
• Must meet applicable U.S. Person requirements for access to export-controlled information under U.S. ITAR regulations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and conduct risk-based internal audits of the quality management system, processes, and supporting functions in accordance with the approved audit program.
• Perform product quality audits using drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and customer requirements to verify product and documentation conformity.
• Review manufacturing records such as work orders, inspection and test records, first article documentation, nonconformance records, certifications, and traceability records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Collect and document objective evidence through interviews, observation, record review, and sampling; maintain clear audit trails and working papers.
• Classify and write audit findings that clearly identify the requirement, objective evidence, and observed nonconformity or opportunity for improvement.
• Conduct opening and closing meetings, communicate results professionally, and issue concise audit reports within established timelines.
• Enter, track, and follow up on corrective actions; evaluate containment, root-cause analysis, planned actions, implementation, and evidence of effectiveness.
• Identify recurring issues and systemic trends, and communicate risk-based recommendations without assuming process ownership.
• Coordinate audit schedules and evidence requests with process owners while minimizing disruption to operations.
• Support customer, registrar, and regulatory audits by retrieving records, explaining the internal audit program, and assisting with response coordination as requested.
• Protect proprietary, export-controlled, customer, employee, and supplier information obtained during audits.
• Perform other quality assurance and compliance activities within the agreed contract scope.

Skills

Audit planning

AS9100

Quality auditing

Regulatory compliance

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree in Quality/Engineering/Manufacturing/Business

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

GKN Aerospace seeks a detail-driven Contract Internal Auditor to plan and perform quality management system and product quality audits within an aerospace manufacturing environment.

You will evaluate conformity to AS9100, applicable regulatory and customer requirements, and internal procedures; verify that products and production records meet defined requirements; document objective evidence; and support timely, sustainable corrective action.