QA Specialist

Actalent; North Dakota; On-site; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist for the Government Systems portfolio, including UAVs, USVs, aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. This role bridges engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams to ensure products meet customer specs, military standards, and internal quality objectives.

This contract-to-hire, fully onsite position is based in Grand Forks, ND.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in AS9100 quality management systems.
• Experience with aerospace and defense industry standards and specifications.
• Strong analytical skills for quality data analysis and trend identification.
• Ability to conduct structured root cause analysis.
• Experience with First Article Inspection (FAI) processes and AS9102 requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming materials through final product acceptance.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements to ensure quality requirements are properly defined and implemented.
• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, defects, and customer quality issues utilizing structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor CAPA to address quality concerns and drive long-term improvements.
• Manage MRB activities and disposition nonconforming materials in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Analyze quality data, trends, and KPIs to identify opportunities for process improvement and defect reduction.
• Support and review 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.
• Verify configuration-controlled documentation, Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes.
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and quality documentation.
• Partner 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.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering change implementation efforts.

Skills

AS9100 QMS

A&D standards

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

FAI AS9102

Job description

Job Description

The Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and compliance of products within the Government Systems portfolio, including UAVs, USVs, aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. This position is a bridge between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams to ensure products align with customer specifications, military standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality objectives. The role involves leading quality planning, root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Support product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming materials through final product acceptance.


• Review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements to ensure quality requirements are properly defined and implemented.


• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, defects, and customer quality issues utilizing structured root cause analysis methodologies.


• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address quality concerns and drive 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.


• Verify configuration-controlled documentation, Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes.


• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and quality documentation.


• Partner 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.


• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering change implementation efforts.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in AS9100 quality management systems.


• Experience with aerospace and defense industry standards and specifications.


• Strong analytical skills for quality data analysis and trend identification.


• Ability to conduct structured root cause analysis.


• Experience with First Article Inspection (FAI) processes and AS9102 requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of quality system compliance activities.


• Experience in managing Material Review Board (MRB) activities.


• Familiarity with quality planning and process improvement initiatives.

Work Environment

The work environment involves collaboration across multiple teams including engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain. The role requires adherence to quality management systems and standards while engaging in process and quality improvements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grand Forks, ND.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

• Medical, dental & vision


• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital


• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available


• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)


• Short and long-term disability


• Health Spending Account (HSA)


• Transportation benefits


• Employee Assistance Program


• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Forks, ND.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 2026.