Quality Engineer

Actalent; Washington; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Quality Engineer to strengthen the Quality Management System for aerospace and defense projects. The role collaborates with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Suppliers, and Customers to drive quality improvements, support audits, and investigate nonconformances.

The position emphasizes root cause analysis, CAPA/RCCA, and maintaining AS9100 compliance while focusing on data-driven decisions and continuous improvement across products and processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in a technical field.
• Minimum 1 year of quality engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (AS9100/ISO 9001).
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings and customer specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical writing and audits.
• Proficiency with quality management systems and CAPA processes.

Responsibilities

• Participate in contract reviews to interpret drawings and quality requirements.
• Develop and maintain quality standards, inspection methods, and quality documentation.
• Generate and review First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) per AS9102.
• Act as a quality resource during customer visits, source inspections, and audits.
• Maintain manufacturing processes in AS9100 and customer compliance.
• Conduct internal/process/job-sequence audits to verify QMS effectiveness.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints and nonconformances; ensure timely resolution.
• Facilitate CAPA/RCCA to eliminate recurring issues and improve processes.
• Support destructive and non-destructive testing activities and validation.
• Analyze quality data to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing to embed quality in products.
• Support supplier quality activities to ensure incoming materials meet requirements.

Skills

CAPA/RCCA

Root cause analysis

AS9100 knowledge

Quality data analysis

Documentation & writing

Audit support

Cross-functional collaboration

Nonconformances handling

Quality management systems

Customer-facing communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering or related technical discipline

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Quality Engineer

Job Description

The Quality Engineer supports and enhances the effectiveness of the Quality Management System while ensuring that products and manufacturing processes meet stringent aerospace, defense, and customer requirements. This role collaborates closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Suppliers, and Customers to drive quality improvements, support audits, investigate nonconformances, and maintain compliance with AS9100, customer specifications, and applicable regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Participate in contract reviews to interpret engineering drawings, customer-specific quality requirements, process specifications, and compliance obligations.
• Develop and maintain quality standards, inspection methods, procedures, work instructions, and quality documentation to support consistent and compliant production.
• Generate, review, and submit First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) in compliance with AS9102 requirements.
• Serve as a technical quality resource during customer visits, source inspections, and external quality audits, representing the organization’s quality position.
• Maintain manufacturing processes and operations in a continuous state of AS9100 and customer compliance.
• Conduct and support internal audits, process audits, and job-sequence audits to verify the compliance and effectiveness of the Quality Management System.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints, internal nonconformances, process failures, and quality escapes, ensuring timely resolution.
• Facilitate root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA/RCCA) to eliminate recurring issues and improve process robustness.
• Support destructive and non-destructive testing activities and validation requirements to confirm product and process conformity.
• Analyze quality data and performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement in products and processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering and manufacturing, to integrate quality requirements into new and existing products and processes.
• Support supplier-related quality activities as needed to ensure incoming materials and components meet specified requirements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 1 year of Quality Engineering experience within an AS9100, ISO 9001, aerospace, defense, medical device, or similar regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting manufacturing quality systems and production operations.
• Knowledge of root cause analysis methodologies and corrective and preventive action processes (CAPA/RCCA).
• Experience with Quality Management Systems and quality control practices in a regulated environment.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, customer specifications, and process requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and customer-facing communication.
• Proficiency in quality engineering and quality assurance principles within aerospace and defense applications.
• Familiarity with AS9100 standards and requirements.
• Ability to analyze quality data and performance metrics to drive data-based decisions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with aerospace and defense products or in a highly regulated manufacturing industry.
• Background in supplier quality, including collaboration with external suppliers and customers.
• Hands-on experience with internal, process, and job-sequence audits.
• Exposure to AS9102 First Article Inspection processes and documentation.
• Knowledge of both destructive and non-destructive testing methods and validation activities.
• Experience contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, manufacturing, program management, suppliers, and customers.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, innovation-focused environment that emphasizes quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Interest in professional growth and advancement within a quality-focused manufacturing organization.

Work Environment

This role is based in a manufacturing setting in Connecticut and involves daily interaction with engineering, manufacturing, and program teams working on highly engineered aerospace and defense products that support