Quality Assurance Technician

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a leading defense tech company in Michigan, seeks a Quality Assurance Technician to ensure QMS compliance and accurate production records on the shop floor. You will verify that processes meet approved requirements, perform Gemba observations, and support training and certification programs for manufacturing staff.

Reporting to the Quality Manager, you will collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations to identify gaps, reinforce

Qualifications

• Experience supporting QA on the shop floor in manufacturing environments.
• Familiar with process confirmation, work instructions, travelers, and inspection points.
• Knowledge of AS9100/quality management principles is a plus.
• Ability to conduct audits and support corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Verify work per approved drawings, travelers, and procedures.
• Conduct periodic job observations and LPAs; document findings.
• Administer employee training, certification, and records for operations.
• Support internal and customer audits and maintain QA documentation.
• Identify and escalate deviations; assist with corrective actions.
• Assist with incoming, in-process, and final inspections as needed.

Tools

TIPQA

Job description

Job Description

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on uncrewed systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training, and combat systems. Our customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises, and state and local government agencies. At Kratos, we prioritize affordability as a cornerstone of our technology. We leverage proven, cutting‑edge methodologies and technology to minimize costs, streamline schedules, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of cost‑effective solutions to market.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Quality Assurance Technician is responsible for supporting day‑to‑day Quality Management System (QMS) compliance and verifying that manufacturing and quality processes are consistently executed in accordance with approved procedures, work instructions, travelers, engineering requirements, customer requirements, and applicable quality standards. This role has a strong shop‑floor presence and focuses on process confirmation, layered process audits, periodic job observations, Gemba verification, employee job certification, on‑the‑job training effectiveness, documentation compliance, and production record accuracy. Reporting to the Quality Manager, the Quality Assurance Technician works closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations to identify process gaps, reinforce standard work, verify employee competency, and promote a culture of quality at the source.

Essential Job Functions

Process Confirmation & Compliance

• Perform routine process confirmation activities to verify work is being performed in accordance with approved drawings, travelers, work instructions, procedures, specifications, and quality requirements.
• Conduct periodic job observations to confirm employee adherence to established standard work and process requirements.
• Perform Layered Process Audits (LPAs) and document findings, actions, and follow‑up.
• Conduct regular Gemba observations throughout manufacturing and assembly areas.
• Verify required inspection, test, documentation, traceability, and process‑control steps are being completed.
• Identify deviations from approved processes and elevate issues to Quality and Operations leadership.
• Follow up on identified process gaps to verify corrective actions have been implemented and remain effective.

Job Certification & Training

• Administer and maintain employee job‑certification programs for manufacturing, assembly, inspection, test, and other controlled operations.
• Coordinate initial certification, periodic recertification, and qualification requirements.
• Support and verify On‑the‑Job Training (OJT) activities.
• Confirm employees demonstrate required knowledge and practical competency before independent performance of certified operations.
• Maintain employee training, qualification, and certification records.
• Monitor certification expiration dates and support timely recertification.
• Work with Quality, Manufacturing, and Engineering personnel to develop practical qualification criteria and competency checklists.
• Identify recurring training or competency gaps and communicate improvement opportunities to leadership.

Quality System & Audit Support

• Support internal audits, customer audits, regulatory audits, and AS9100 Quality Management System activities.
• Conduct scheduled process and compliance audits within assigned operational areas.
• Maintain objective evidence demonstrating compliance with QMS requirements.
• Assist with corrective‑action follow‑up resulting from audits, process observations, and identified compliance gaps.
• Support continuous audit readiness by ensuring required records and documentation are complete, accurate, controlled, and retrievable.
• Reinforce requirements related to configuration control, traceability, calibration, FOD, documentation, inspection status, product identification, and record retention.

Production & Quality Documentation

• Review manufacturing travelers, inspection records, test records, training records, and other production documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Verify required sign‑ups, inspection points, certifications, and approvals are completed before product progresses to subsequent operations.
• Support maintenance and control of organizational quality records and electronic quality‑system data.
• Identify incomplete, inaccurate, or missing production records and coordinate correction with responsible personnel.
• Support electronic QMS systems, including TIPQA or equivalent platforms.

Nonconformance & Quality Support

• Support identification, documentation, containment, and investigation of nonconforming products or processes.
• Assist Quality Engineering with collection of data and objective evidence required for root cause and corrective‑action investigations.
• Identify recurring process deviations, documentation issues, or workmanship concerns and escalation trends.
• Support implementation and verification of corrective actions.
• Assist with incoming, in‑process, and final inspection activities as production demands require.
• Support First Article Inspection (FAI), inspection, testing, and