Quality Assurance Engineer

Actalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Quality Assurance Engineer to support quality activities in a fast-paced, advanced manufacturing environment. The role focuses on root cause analysis, CAPA, and collaboration with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to improve product quality and regulatory compliance.

You will be involved in audits, data analysis, and hands-on work on the production floor and in cleanroom areas, with direct interaction on quality investigations and corrective actions as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience performing root cause investigations and corrective actions (CAPA).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities applied to manufacturing quality issues.
• Ability to communicate technical information across levels and document quality data clearly.
• Eligibility to work in an ITAR-regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Support quality engineering activities to ensure products meet internal and customer quality standards.
• Investigate quality issues and drive timely, effective resolution.
• Conduct root cause analyses (5 Why, RCA) and implement corrective actions.
• Review production processes and analyze quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to improve product quality and compliance.
• Support customer complaint investigations and communicate findings clearly.
• Create and maintain quality documentation and records for the quality system.
• Participate in internal and external quality audits and ISO 9001 activities.
• Review engineering drawings and specifications to ensure quality requirements are defined and met.
• Identify quality risks on the floor and assist with process changes.
• Engage with customers on quality issues and corrective actions when required.

Skills

Root cause analysis

CAPA

5 Why Analysis

Quality data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Problem solving

Communication

ITAR compliance

Education

Bachelors degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Job Title: Quality Assurance EngineerJob Description

The Quality Assurance Engineer supports quality engineering activities within a manufacturing environment, investigating product, process, and customer quality issues and driving timely resolution. This role conducts root cause analysis, implements corrective and preventive actions, and partners closely with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to improve product quality, compliance, and overall operational performance. The position offers broad exposure to customer complaints, audits, process improvement, and manufacturing support, with the opportunity to make a direct impact on product quality and customer satisfaction in a fast-paced, advanced manufacturing setting.

Responsibilities

• Support quality engineering activities within a manufacturing environment to ensure products consistently meet internal and customer quality standards.
• Investigate product, process, and customer quality issues and drive timely, effective resolution.
• Conduct root cause analysis using methodologies such as 5 Why, RCA, and CAPA, and implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate recurring issues.
• Review production processes and analyze quality data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to improve product quality, regulatory compliance, and overall operational performance.
• Support customer complaint investigations, including data collection, root cause determination, and development of corrective actions, and communicate findings and resolutions clearly.
• Create, maintain, and update quality documentation, reports, and records to ensure accurate and complete quality system information.
• Participate in internal and external quality audits and support ongoing quality system compliance initiatives, including ISO 9001 activities.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing documentation to verify that quality requirements are clearly defined and met.
• Support manufacturing operations by identifying quality risks, recommending improvements, and helping implement process changes.
• Work cross-functionally with manufacturing, production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure products meet customer requirements and internal standards.
• Engage in hands-on involvement with manufacturing processes and quality investigations on the production floor and in cleanroom environments as needed.
• Interact with customers regarding quality issues, investigations, and corrective actions when required.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and ownership of quality improvement initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ensure adherence to requirements for working in an ITAR-regulated environment, including appropriate handling of controlled products and information.

Essential Skills

• 35 years of quality engineering experience within a manufacturing environment preferred, with consideration for candidates with less experience who possess strong internship, co-op, or relevant manufacturing quality experience.
• Demonstrated experience supporting quality engineering activities in a production or manufacturing setting.
• Proven experience performing root cause investigations and corrective action activities using tools such as Root Cause Analysis, Corrective Action, 5 Why Analysis, CAPA, or similar methodologies.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities applied to complex manufacturing and quality issues.
• Ability to independently solve problems, drive quality improvements, and take ownership of quality initiatives.
• Experience working cross-functionally with manufacturing, production, engineering, and quality teams.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information across multiple levels of an organization, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent documentation skills for reports, records, and quality system documentation.
• Eligibility to work in an ITAR-regulated environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering preferred; other relevant engineering or technical degrees may also be considered.
• Exposure to ISO 9001 quality systems and experience supporting compliance activities preferred.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies preferred, including application to process and quality improvement.
• Audit participation or audit support experience preferred.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing preferred.
• Experience in aerospace and defense manufacturing preferred.
• Experience in electronics, semiconductor, or component manufacturing preferred.
• Experience supporting customer quality issues and customer complaint investigations preferred.
• Comfort working in advanced manufacturing environments with highly engineered electronic components.
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership mindset, and ability to work independently in a fast-paced setting.

Work Environment

This position is 100% onsite with regular presence on the engineering and production floors. The role involves frequent collaboration with quality, manufacturing, process engineering, and production teams, as well as hands‑on involvement with manufacturing processes, quality investigations, and process improvement initiatives. You will work in a fast‑paced environment that requires independent decision‑making and strong cross‑functional communication. The work includes exposure to cleanroom and manufacturing areas to support product quality and operational improvements and may involve direct interaction with customers regarding quality issues and corrective actions. The organization offers the opportunity to support advanced manufacturing processes and highly engineered electronic components, with strong cross‑functional visibility and a temp‑to‑hire pathway that provides long‑term growth potential. The culture rewards initiative, ownership, and independent problem‑solving, and emphasizes making a direct impact on product quality and customer satisfaction.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $78000.00 - $90000.00/hr.

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.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: 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 San Diego,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 14, 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.