QA Specialist

Job Title: QA SpecialistJob Description

The Quality Engineer / Quality Specialist plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and compliance of products within the Government Systems portfolio, including UAVs, USVs, aerospace test equipment, and advanced defense systems. This position is a bridge between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams to ensure products align with customer specifications, military standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality objectives. The role involves leading quality planning, root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Support product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, from incoming materials through final product acceptance.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, military standards, and customer requirements to ensure quality requirements are properly defined and implemented.
• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, defects, and customer quality issues utilizing structured root cause analysis methodologies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address quality concerns and drive 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.
• Verify configuration-controlled documentation, Bills of Materials (BOMs), work instructions, and manufacturing processes.
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, inspection plans, control plans, and quality documentation.
• Partner 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.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering change implementation efforts.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in AS9100 quality management systems.
• Experience with aerospace and defense industry standards and specifications.
• Strong analytical skills for quality data analysis and trend identification.
• Ability to conduct structured root cause analysis.
• Experience with First Article Inspection (FAI) processes and AS9102 requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of quality system compliance activities.
• Experience in managing Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
• Familiarity with quality planning and process improvement initiatives.

Work Environment

The work environment involves collaboration across multiple teams including engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain. The role requires adherence to quality management systems and standards while engaging in process and quality improvements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grand Forks, ND.

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 Grand Forks,ND.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 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.