Lead Quality Engineer

Actalent; West Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Stock options

Retirement plans

Uncapped PTO

3% yearly bonus

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Lead Quality Engineer to oversee RCCA, non-conforming material investigations, and supplier quality issues for an aerospace fuel systems product line. You will partner with manufacturing, engineering, customers, and suppliers to ensure quality compliance and drive improvements.

The role starts hands-on with planned progression to Quality Manager within six months, leading a team of 4 once promoted. On-site in West Hartford, CT, with a strong quality culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in RCCA, non-conforming material investigations, and supplier quality issues.
• Experience with ISO 9001 and AS9100 environments.
• Leadership potential with mentoring or supervisory exposure.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary quality engineering resource for RCCA, non-conforming material investigations, customer quality escapes, and supplier quality issues.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, customers, and suppliers to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the product line.
• Function as a hands-on individual contributor while learning the product line, customers, suppliers, and internal quality systems.
• Transition into the Quality Manager role within approximately six months.
• Lead a team of 4 direct reports once transitioned into the Quality Manager role.

Skills

Quality engineering

RCCA / 8D / 5 Why

Supplier quality

ISO 9001

Leadership potential

NCR management

Aerospace quality experience

Cross-functional interface

Communication skills

Education

AS9100 / Aerospace QMS experience

AS9102 FAI experience

APQP/PPAP/PFMEA knowledge

Tools

Q-Pulse FAIR

Net-Inspect

Teamcenter

JDE/MRP

Job description

Job Title: Lead Quality Engineer

This role with fast track into a Quality Manager within 6-12 months

Job Description

The Quality Assurance Engineer will support an aerospace fuel systems product line responsible for measuring and controlling fuel flow in jet engine applications through electromechanical controls. This individual will serve as the primary quality engineering resource for root cause corrective action (RCCA), non-conforming material investigations, customer quality escapes, and supplier quality issues. The role will partner closely with manufacturing, engineering, customers, and suppliers to ensure compliance with quality standards while driving continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will come from an aerospace manufacturing environment, although candidates from other highly regulated industries such as medical device or automotive will be considered. This position is being hired as part of a planned succession strategy. The selected candidate will initially function as a hands-on individual contributor while learning the product line, customers, suppliers, and internal quality systems. Within approximately six months, the individual is expected to transition into the Quality Manager.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary quality engineering resource for RCCA, non-conforming material investigations, customer quality escapes, and supplier quality issues.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, engineering, customers, and suppliers to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the product line.
• Function as a hands-on individual contributor while learning the product line, customers, suppliers, and internal quality systems.
• Transition into the Quality Manager role within approximately six months.
• Lead a team of 4 direct reports once transitioned into the Quality Manager role.

Essential Skills

• Quality engineering
• Root cause analysis
• Supplier quality
• ISO 9001
• RCCA / Root Cause Corrective Action (8D, 5 Why, corrective & preventive actions)
• Non-Conforming Material / NCR Management
• Aerospace Quality Engineering or highly regulated Med Device/Automotive quality experience
• Customer & Supplier Quality Interface / Quality Escapes
• Leadership Potential

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• AS9100 / Aerospace Quality Management Systems experience
• AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAI) experience
• APQP, PPAP, and PFMEA knowledge
• Statistical analysis and process capability experience
• Quality auditing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Customers, and Suppliers
• Customer quality and supplier corrective action experience
• Quality leadership, mentoring, or supervisory experience preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and quality systems tools such as Q-Pulse FAIR, Net-Inspect, Teamcenter, and JDE/MRP preferred

Work Environment

The role is set within an aerospace manufacturing environment supporting fuel systems and electromechanical controls for commercial, military, and business jet applications. The facility maintains a business casual dress environment and operates as a union manufacturing site. Employees will experience a collaborative environment with daily interaction across Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Customers, and Suppliers. The position is hands-on, supporting RCCA, non-conforming material investigations, customer escapes, and supplier quality activities. The work schedule is flexible, with core hours from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is primarily an on-site position with limited travel, with most suppliers located locally in Connecticut. The location is conveniently near major shopping, dining, and retail areas, and features a large on-site cafeteria offering extensive breakfast and lunch options. The company offers a stable manufacturing environment with a planned leadership succession opportunity into a Quality Manager role within approximately six months.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of West Hartford, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $130000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, Dental Vision 3% yearly bonus stock options retirement plans FTO- uncapped PTO

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in West Hartford,CT.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.