Senior QA Auditor, Maintenance & Engineering

Alaska Air Group; SeaTac (WA); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free stand-by travel privileges

Medical, dental and vision benefits

401k match

Annual bonus plans

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Alaska Airlines is hiring a Senior Quality Assurance Auditor in Maintenance & Engineering. You will lead audits, assess regulatory compliance, and drive process improvements. Travel frequently, including international assignments, and partner with leadership to shape QA strategy.

The role requires 4 years in airline maintenance/audit, FAA knowledge, and strong communication. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. Eligible for U.S. work and passport use is expected.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in maintenance and engineering, auditing, compliance, or safety within the airline industry or related area.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional 2 years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Knowledge of FAA regulations, operating policies, and procedures.
• Ability to audit and document complex business/operational processes across planning, fieldwork, reporting, and follow-up.
• Strong ability to balance and manage multiple projects/demands.
• Strong communication skills (verbal, written, listening) to all levels.
• Must have a valid passport and be able to travel frequently, including internationally.
• Minimum age 18 and authorized to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Act as SME in QA audits using department methodologies and checklists.
• Conduct complex reviews and audits to improve M&E processes.
• Support audits for CAS E and external reviews including DOD and IOSA.
• Perform root-cause analysis and monitor corrective actions.
• Maintain audit results in QA database and validate follow-up actions.
• Stay current with SMS training requirements.

Skills

Auditing

Compliance

Safety

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Company Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

Role Summary

The Senior Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor, Maintenance & Engineering (M&E), is a subject matter expert responsible for upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance with internal Alaska Airlines (AS) departments and third-party maintenance partners. As an individual contributor, this role exercises considerable independent judgment to assess compliance with internal policies and procedures, industry best practices, and federal regulations.

Key Duties

• Act as a subject matter expert in QA audits by executing audit engagements using department methodologies, standardized workpapers, checklists, and/or inquiry-based procedures to assess detail-level knowledge and compliance of the auditee.

• With minimal direction from leadership, exercise considerable latitude and initiative to conduct complex reviews, investigations, and a variety of audits to facilitate improvement in processes that support M&E operations.

• Manage execution of audits in support of the Coordinating Agency for Supplier Evaluation (C.A.S.E.).

• Perform root cause analysis with stakeholder input to make recommendations for effective correction action development, monitor progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of final implementation.

• Maintain audit results and findings within the QA database, determine follow‑up, and validate audit corrective actions.

• Utilize the Safety Management System (SMS) and remain current in the training requirements for SMS.

• Partner with the Manager QA and Director QA to make recommendations on the strategy for the QA schedule in accordance with internal risk assessments and C.A.S.E. auditing assignments.

• Lead and tailor communication of audit scope, methodologies, and results effectively across all levels of the organization.

• Promote risk management awareness and operational safety assurance throughout the organization by facilitating the development of tools and techniques that enhance risk management, identification, and internal controls.

• Manage external reviews of company operating divisions by supporting both business and aviation‑specific projects, including annual external audits, the Department of Defense (DOD) surveys, and the International Air Transport Association(IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 4 years of experience in working in maintenance and engineering, auditing, compliance, or safety within the airline industry, or related area.

• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional 2 years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.

• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, operating policies, and procedures.

• Ability to understand, audit, and document complex business and operational processes, including effectively scoping audit projects and contributing to all project phases (planning, fieldwork, reporting, and follow‑up).

• Strong ability to balance and effectively manage multiple projects/demands.

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.

• Demonstrated skills in effective communication (e.g., verbal, written, and listening) to all levels within an operations organization.

• A valid passport and ability and willingness to travel frequently, including international travel.

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Minimum age of 18.

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Valid FAA Certification (e.g., A&P, Powerplant, or Repairman).

• C.A.S.E Qualified Auditor.

• Auditor certification or training (e.g., Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO Quality Auditor).

Job-Specific Leadership Expectations

Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.

Salary Range

$90,750-$149,800 / year

Salary Details

Pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, relevant experience/level and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

Note: We don’t typically hire at the top of the range.

Total Rewards

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

• Free stand‑by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air

• Comprehensive well‑being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits

• Generous 401k match program

• Annual bonus plans

• Generous holiday and paid time off

For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

Airport SIDA Badge Requirements

Important notification for employees working at an airport or maintenance hangar: Employees will be required to obtain a SIDA badge provided by the airport authority and maintain good standing in order to keep their SIDA badge. Review the SIDA Badge Requirements document for a comprehensive overview. If an employee does not qualify for a SIDA badge or has their SIDA badge pulled from them, the employee will be terminated.

Regulatory Information

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.

We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 503") and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 ("VEVRAA"). All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.

To implement this policy, we will:

(1) Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories;

(2) Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and

(3) Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

Employees and applicants for employment will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged or may engage in (1) filing a complaint, (2) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by, or exercising any other right protected by, any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA, or (3) assisting or participating in any investigation, compliance evaluation, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA.

Government Contractor & Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post‑offer and/or pre‑employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety‑sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.

Job Locations USA-WA-SeaTac | USA-HI-Honolulu

Requisition ID 2026-20226

Category Corporate & Operations

FLSA Status Exempt
Employment Type Full‑Time
Regular/Temporary Regular
Location Seattle - Hangar
L: #LI‑B
Job Locations USA-WA-SeaTac | USA-HI-Honolulu
Requisition ID 2026-20226
Category Corporate & Operations