Quality Auditor (Contract)

GKN Aerospace; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a detail-driven Contract Internal Auditor to plan and perform quality audits in an aerospace manufacturing environment. You will evaluate conformity to AS9100, regulatory requirements, and internal procedures while documenting evidence and supporting timely corrective action.

In this role you will collaborate with Quality, Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain, maintaining objectivity and confidentiality throughout the audit process.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in aerospace, defense, or regulated manufacturing quality including audit/inspection
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements and ability to translate into audit evidence
• Experience reviewing manufacturing and inspection documentation, drawings, specs, and records
• Ability to write clear, factual audit findings and reports
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and electronic quality/document systems
• Strong communication, organization and analytical judgment
• Ability to remain objective when auditing activities
• Must meet U.S. Person requirements for ITAR access

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and conduct risk-based internal audits of the quality management system and processes
• Perform product quality audits using drawings, specs, work instructions, and acceptance criteria
• Review manufacturing records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance
• Collect and document objective evidence and maintain audit trails
• Classify and write audit findings with clear requirements and evidence
• Conduct opening/closing meetings and issue audit reports within timelines
• Enter and follow up on corrective actions and verify effectiveness
• Identify recurring issues and communicate risk-based recommendations
• Coordinate audit schedules with process owners to minimize disruption
• Support customer and regulatory audits by providing records and responses
• Protect confidential and export-controlled information

Skills

Audit experience

Quality systems

Communication

Analytical judgment

Independence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quality/Engineering

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Electronic quality systems

Job description

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

We are seeking a detail-driven and independent Contract Internal Auditor to plan and perform quality management system and product quality audits within an aerospace manufacturing environment. The auditor will evaluate conformity to AS9100, applicable regulatory and customer requirements, and internal procedures; verify that products and production records meet defined requirements; document objective evidence; and support timely, sustainable corrective action. The role partners across Quality, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Document Control while maintaining auditor objectivity and confidentiality.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and conduct risk-based internal audits of the quality management system, processes, and supporting functions in accordance with the approved audit program.
• Perform product quality audits using drawings, specifications, work instructions, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and customer requirements to verify product and documentation conformity.
• Review manufacturing records such as work orders, inspection and test records, first article documentation, nonconformance records, certifications, and traceability records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Collect and document objective evidence through interviews, observation, record review, and sampling; maintain clear audit trails and working papers.
• Classify and write audit findings that clearly identify the requirement, objective evidence, and observed nonconformity or opportunity for improvement.
• Conduct opening and closing meetings, communicate results professionally, and issue concise audit reports within established timelines.
• Enter, track, and follow up on corrective actions; evaluate containment, root-cause analysis, planned actions, implementation, and evidence of effectiveness.
• Identify recurring issues and systemic trends, and communicate risk-based recommendations without assuming process ownership.
• Coordinate audit schedules and evidence requests with process owners while minimizing disruption to operations.
• Support customer, registrar, and regulatory audits by retrieving records, explaining the internal audit program, and assisting with response coordination as requested.
• Protect proprietary, export-controlled, customer, employee, and supplier information obtained during audits.
• Perform other quality assurance and compliance activities within the agreed contract scope.

Job Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing quality, including direct audit, inspection, quality engineering, or quality systems experience.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements and the ability to translate requirements into an audit plan and objective-evidence trail.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing manufacturing and inspection documentation, technical drawings, specifications, and product acceptance records.
• Ability to write clear, factual, and defensible audit findings and reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and electronic quality/document management systems.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical judgment, and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain independent and objective when auditing assigned activities.
• Must meet applicable U.S. Person requirements for access to export-controlled information under U.S. ITAR regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.
• Recognized auditor training or certification, such as ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Exemplar Global, or an AS9100 internal/lead auditor course.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection, product/process auditing, aerospace customer requirements, FAA-regulated operations, or Nadcap special processes.
• Experience evaluating corrective action using structured methods such as 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, 8D, or similar root-cause tools.
• Experience with statistical sampling, trend analysis, and risk-based audit planning.

Compensation Data

Salary Range: $79,746.00 - $99,682.00

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.