QA Specialist

Actalent; Maryland; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent seeks a QA Specialist to ensure quality, reliability, and compliance of defense systems products including UAVs and aerospace test equipment. You will lead quality planning, CAPA, MRB, and supplier collaboration to meet customer specs and military standards.

The role requires analyzing quality data, supporting audits, and driving continuous improvement across the product lifecycle with cross-functional teams in a government-focused portfolio.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting product/process quality throughout manufacturing lifecycle.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs, military standards, customer requirements.
• Proven root cause analysis skills and implementing CAPA.
• Experience with MRB activities and dispositioning nonconforming materials.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality standards in aerospace/defense.
• Ability to drive quality improvements and collaborate with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Support quality across manufacturing lifecycle from incoming materials to final product.
• Review drawings, specs, and standards to ensure quality requirements are defined and traceable.
• Lead investigations into nonconformances and defects using structured RCA methods.
• Develop and monitor CAPA programs to address quality concerns.
• Manage MRB activities and dispositions of nonconforming materials with engineering & manufacturing.
• Analyze quality data and KPIs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Review FAI packages per AS9102 requirements for compliance.
• Support product validation, process qualification, and verification activities.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 and applicable military standards.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues and support SCARs.
• Assist internal/audit/government audits to verify quality system compliance.

Skills

CAPA

MRB management

AS9100

Root cause analysis

QMS documentation

Process improvement

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: QA Specialist (Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist)

Job Description

The QA Specialist (Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist) ensures the quality, reliability, and compliance of manufactured products within a Government Systems portfolio, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. This role acts as a key liaison between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications, military standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality objectives. The QA Specialist leads quality planning, root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, nonconformance management, process improvement initiatives, and quality system compliance activities, playing a critical role in maintaining product integrity, supporting operational excellence, and driving continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Support product and process quality throughout the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming materials through final product acceptance.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements to ensure quality requirements are clearly defined, traceable, and effectively implemented.
• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, defects, and customer quality issues using structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address quality concerns and drive sustainable, long-term improvements.
• Manage Material Review Board (MRB) activities and disposition nonconforming materials in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Analyze quality data, trends, and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for process improvement and defect reduction.
• Support and review First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Participate in product validation, process qualification, and verification activities to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 quality management system requirements, customer specifications, and applicable military standards.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues and support supplier corrective action requests (SCARs).
• Support internal audits, customer audits, government audits, and compliance assessments to verify adherence to quality system requirements.
• Verify configuration-controlled documentation, including Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes, to ensure accuracy and alignment with current requirements.
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and other quality documentation to support consistent execution and compliance.
• Partner closely with manufacturing and engineering teams to improve process capability, reduce variation, and enhance product reliability.
• Participate in risk assessments, failure analysis activities, and continuous improvement initiatives across the product lifecycle.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering change implementation efforts to ensure quality requirements are integrated from concept through production.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience supporting product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming inspection to final acceptance.
• Strong ability to interpret and review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements.
• Hands-on experience leading investigations into product nonconformances and defects using structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Proven capability to develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Experience managing Material Review Board (MRB) activities and dispositioning nonconforming materials in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in analyzing quality data, trends, and key performance indicators to identify and drive process improvements.
• Experience supporting and reviewing First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality management system requirements and their application in an aerospace or defense environment.
• Familiarity with AS9001 and related aviation and space quality standards.
• Experience ensuring compliance with customer specifications and applicable military standards.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with suppliers to resolve quality issues and support supplier corrective action requests (SCA