Quality Assurance Engineer – Aerospace & Defense Systems (Process & Audit)

Impact Solutions LLC; Brownsville (WI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Direct-hire

Job summary

Mindscope is seeking a Quality Assurance Engineer for Aerospace & Defense Systems to own and optimize the QMS (AS9100D / ISO 9001). You will lead audits, CAPA investigations, and drive process improvements on the manufacturing floor in a small, veteran-owned environment near Brownsville, WI.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in quality within manufacturing/engineering, strong documentation skills, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on quality experience in manufacturing/engineering.
• Knowledge of AS9100D, ISO 9001, or IATF 16949 and corrective action workflows.
• Strong written and spoken communication for quality documentation.
• Ability to drive quality projects to completion with minimal supervision.
• Must reside within commuting distance to Brownsville, WI with US work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, audit, and optimize QMS in AS9100D/ISO 9001.
• Conduct floor audits and process sampling on the manufacturing line.
• Lead CAPA investigations and drive process improvements.
• Collaborate with engineering and production leadership.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance; draft SOPs and reports.

Skills

Quality engineering

Auditing

Documentation

Leadership

Communication

Tools

AS9100D

ISO 9001

IATF 16949

Job description

Quality Assurance Engineer – Aerospace & Defense Systems (Process & Audit)

Job Order ID: 4819

Employment Type: Permanent

Salary: $80000/Yr

Web Publication Date: 11/3/2026 12:00:00 AM

Job Location: Brownsville, WI 53006

Job Function:

Quality Assurance Engineer – Aerospace & Defense Systems (Process & Audit)

Up to $80,000/yr (Salaried) • Brownsville, WI area • 1st Shift • Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Up to $80,000/yr starting base salary (scaling directly with quality depth) + 401(k) retirement plan and predictable direct-hire stability.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Standard 1st Shift schedule (Monday – Friday) operating 100% on‑site with minimal travel and predictable routine stability.
• Environment & Company Profile: Reporting directly to the President within a small, established, veteran-owned aerospace & defense manufacturer experiencing 20% annual growth; tight-knit 8-person leadership team with zero corporate bureaucracy.
• Core Functional Scope: Own the quality management system (AS9100D / ISO 9001), conduct in-process manufacturing audits, lead corrective action investigations, drive process improvements, and ensure 100% zero-defect reliability for mission-critical aircraft lighting.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires 3+ years of hands‑on quality experience in manufacturing/engineering (open to aerospace, defense, automotive, or precision metal/electronics), US work authorization, and a local commute to the Greater Milwaukee / Northeast WI corridor.

This is a small, veteran‑owned aerospace and defense manufacturer with over a decade of steady growth. The quality function here is not a compliance checkbox — it is central to how the company delivers products that perform in demanding military and aerospace environments. For a quality professional who has been working in a narrow role at a larger organization, this is a genuine opportunity to own the function more broadly across inspection, process development, and quality system compliance.

The team is lean and the culture is direct. Reporting directly to the President and sitting on a tight‑knit leadership team, you will work closely alongside engineering and production leadership to identify issues, build better processes, and keep programs on track. The company is flexible on background for the right candidate — hands‑on quality experience, sound judgment, and the ability to operate independently matter more than credentials. Minimal travel and a stable, mission‑driven environment round out the picture.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Lead Quality Management System (QMS): Maintain, audit, and optimize quality policies and procedures in compliance with AS9100D and ISO 9001 standards.
• Execute Floor Audits & Process Sampling: Conduct regular inspections, process sampling, and audits across the manufacturing floor to verify product compliance and prevent flaws before final assembly.
• Drive Continuous Improvement & Corrective Actions: Identify operational defect trends, lead root‑cause analysis (CAPA), and implement measurable process modifications to enhance first‑pass yield.
• Collaborate with Leadership & Engineering: Participate actively in weekly leadership team meetings, partnering with engineering and production heads to align quality goals with production schedules.
• Oversee Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure manufacturing procedures conform to applicable health, safety regulations, and environmental guidelines.
• Draft Technical Quality Documentation: Generate comprehensive quality reports, customer inspection records, audit findings, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Quality Engineering & Manufacturing Depth: 3+ years of hands‑on experience supporting manufacturing and engineering teams in a dedicated Quality role.
• Quality Systems Literacy: Understanding of AS9100D, ISO 9001, or automotive IATF 16949 quality system frameworks, auditing practices, and corrective action workflows.
• Strong Communication & Report Writing: Demonstrated capability to draft clear, detailed quality documentation, audit summaries, and technical reports.
• Project & Leadership Capability: Ability to drive quality projects to completion independently without micromanagement while maintaining a customer‑focused attitude.
• Location & Authorization: Residing within a comfortable daily commuting distance of Brownsville, WI area with full US work authorization (no sponsorship required).

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Aerospace, Defense, or Automotive Background: Prior exposure to military/aerospace manufacturing standards or high‑precision automotive/electronics environments.
• Auditor Credentials: Certified Internal Auditor, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or formal quality discipline coursework.
• Small‑Company Adaptability: Background wearing multiple hats across quality, manufacturing, and engineering in a lean manufacturing setting.