QA Specialist

Job Title: QA Specialist (Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist)

Job Description

The QA Specialist (Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist) ensures the quality, reliability, and compliance of manufactured products within a Government Systems portfolio, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. This role acts as a key liaison between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications, military standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality objectives. The QA Specialist leads quality planning, root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, nonconformance management, process improvement initiatives, and quality system compliance activities, playing a critical role in maintaining product integrity, supporting operational excellence, and driving continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Support product and process quality throughout the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming materials through final product acceptance.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements to ensure quality requirements are clearly defined, traceable, and effectively implemented.
• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, defects, and customer quality issues using structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address quality concerns and drive sustainable, long-term improvements.
• Manage Material Review Board (MRB) activities and disposition nonconforming materials in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Analyze quality data, trends, and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for process improvement and defect reduction.
• Support and review First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Participate in product validation, process qualification, and verification activities to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 quality management system requirements, customer specifications, and applicable military standards.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues and support supplier corrective action requests (SCARs).
• Support internal audits, customer audits, government audits, and compliance assessments to verify adherence to quality system requirements.
• Verify configuration-controlled documentation, including Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes, to ensure accuracy and alignment with current requirements.
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and other quality documentation to support consistent execution and compliance.
• Partner closely with manufacturing and engineering teams to improve process capability, reduce variation, and enhance product reliability.
• Participate in risk assessments, failure analysis activities, and continuous improvement initiatives across the product lifecycle.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering change implementation efforts to ensure quality requirements are integrated from concept through production.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience supporting product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming inspection to final acceptance.
• Strong ability to interpret and review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements.
• Hands-on experience leading investigations into product nonconformances and defects using structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Proven capability to develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Experience managing Material Review Board (MRB) activities and dispositioning nonconforming materials in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in analyzing quality data, trends, and key performance indicators to identify and drive process improvements.
• Experience supporting and reviewing First Article Inspection (FAI) packages in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality management system requirements and their application in an aerospace or defense environment.
• Familiarity with AS9001 and related aviation and space quality standards.
• Experience ensuring compliance with customer specifications and applicable military standards.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with suppliers to resolve quality issues and support supplier corrective action requests (SCARs).
• Experience supporting internal, customer, and government audits and compliance assessments.
• Strong skills in verifying configuration-controlled documentation, such as Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and related documentation.
• Proven experience partnering with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills suited to a high-reliability, aerospace or defense-focused environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with avionics, UAVs, space systems, or advanced defense systems.
• Experience in aerospace test equipment or complex electromechanical systems.
• Exposure to new product introduction (NPI) and engineering change implementation in a regulated environment.
• Experience participating in risk assessments, failure analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives such as process optimization or defect reduction projects.
• Familiarity with structured quality tools and methodologies used in root cause analysis and CAPA management.
• Comfort working within a Government Systems portfolio, supporting products subject to military and regulatory standards.

Work Environment

The QA Specialist works in a high-technology manufacturing and engineering environment focused on Government Systems, including UAVs, USVs, aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. The role involves close collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams, as well as interaction with suppliers and participation in audits. Work is primarily performed in office, lab, and production floor settings where configuration-controlled documentation, Bills of Materials, work instructions, and formal quality procedures guide daily activities. The environment emphasizes adherence to AS9100 and AS9102 standards, robust process controls, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on product reliability, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Rockville, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Rockville,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.