Quality Engineer

Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation; Jonesborough (TN); On-site; USD 86,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Career growth

Job summary

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) is seeking a Quality Engineer for the Jonesborough, TN operation to ensure quality systems meet nuclear-grade and defense-level requirements.

You will develop plans, perform audits, investigate nonconformances, and drive corrective actions in a highly regulated environment. The role emphasizes collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Safety, and Supply Chain to maintain compliance and safety standards for DU components and munitions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field; other degrees considered with minimum 10 years applicable quality experience.
• Minimum 4 years of quality engineering experience in manufacturing, defense, nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated environments.
• Working knowledge of quality systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or NQA-1.
• Experience with quality engineering tools (FMEA, 5 Why, Pareto, control plans, root-cause analysis).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and detailed technical specifications.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and structured problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain quality plans, inspection criteria, and process controls for DU materials and munitions components.
• Conduct internal audits, supplier audits, and process assessments to ensure compliance with standards, regulatory requirements, and contract specifications.
• Investigate nonconforming material, lead root-cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Review engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and program requirements; provide quality input during design and manufacturing planning.
• Monitor, analyze, and report quality metrics; recommend improvements to enhance reliability, safety, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Safety, and Supply Chain to resolve quality issues quickly and effectively.
• Oversee inspection activities including dimensional checks, documentation review, and material traceability for DU components.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements related to DU and hazardous-material handling.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and ensure processes meet nuclear-grade and defense-level quality expectations.
• Maintain accurate documentation, records, reports, and evidence for audits, regulatory reviews, and customer deliverables.

Skills

Quality engineering

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Cross-functional work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field

Tools

FMEA

5 Why

Pareto analysis

Control plans

Root-cause analysis

Job description

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT's technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to BWXT!

At BWXT's Nuclear Operations Group, you will support mission-critical defense manufacturing programs in a highly regulated, precision-driven environment. Our teams operate with technical rigor, disciplined execution, and a deep commitment to safety, quality, and national-security excellence. Whether you're growing in your engineering career or bringing advanced experience, BWXT offers opportunities to make an impact in a meaningful, purpose-driven setting.

Position Overview

The Quality Engineer supports all quality assurance and quality control functions at BWXT Ordnance - Jonesborough. This role ensures compliance with program requirements, industry standards, nuclear-grade specifications, and customer expectations. The engineer develops and improves quality systems, leads inspections and audits, supports problem-solving activities, and ensures production processes meet stringent safety, regulatory, and DU-specific quality requirements.

Your Day to Day as a Quality Engineer

• Develop and maintain quality plans, inspection criteria, and process controls for DU materials and munitions components.
• Conduct internal audits, supplier audits, and process assessments to ensure compliance with standards, regulatory requirements, and contract specifications.
• Investigate nonconforming material, lead root-cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Review engineering drawings, GD&T, specifications, and program requirements; provide quality input during design and manufacturing planning.
• Monitor, analyze, and report quality metrics; recommend improvements to enhance reliability, safety, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Safety, and Supply Chain to resolve quality issues quickly and effectively.
• Oversee inspection activities including dimensional checks, documentation review, and material traceability for DU components.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements related to DU and hazardous-material handling.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and ensure processes meet nuclear-grade and defense-level quality expectations.
• Maintain accurate documentation, records, reports, and evidence for audits, regulatory reviews, and customer deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field; other degrees considered with minimum 10 years applicable quality experience.
• Minimum 4 years of quality engineering experience in manufacturing, defense, nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated environments.
• Working knowledge of quality systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or NQA-1.
• Experience with quality engineering tools (FMEA, 5 Why, Pareto, control plans, root-cause analysis).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and detailed technical specifications.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and structured problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with DU, radiological materials, or nuclear-grade components.
• Familiarity with DOE, NRC, or defense program requirements.
• Six Sigma certification or equivalent training.
• Experience in supplier quality management within regulated environments.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Technical development and certification support.
• A mission-focused culture centered on national security and precision manufacturing.
• Long-term career growth opportunities within BWXT.

Pay: $86,450 - $136,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $86,450 and $136,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,' unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities ("BWXT" or the "Company") complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.