QA Specialist

Job Title: QA Specialist

Job Description

The QA Specialist leads and manages quality assurance laboratory operations across multiple locations, ensuring robust quality systems, regulatory compliance, and a strong culture of safety and continuous improvement. This role oversees QA lab teams, drives the development and implementation of QA policies and procedures, and supports the organization with accurate testing, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage the QA laboratory, ensuring safe operations, proper organization, and adherence to general safety practices.
• Direct and manage QA lab teams across multiple sites, including providing day-to-day leadership, setting expectations, and ensuring effective coordination between locations.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and training of QA laboratory staff, and conduct performance evaluations to support professional growth and high performance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain QA policies, procedures, and protocols that support consistent and reliable quality operations.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards, such as ISO and environmental health and safety (EH&S) requirements.
• Represent the QA laboratory in internal and external communications, including interactions with other departments, partners, and auditors.
• Help develop and maintain a robust quality management system in collaboration with the QMS manager.
• Participate in planning and conducting internal and external audits to assess compliance, identify gaps, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Oversee the development, validation, and maintenance of testing equipment, methods, and procedures to ensure reliable and repeatable results.
• Help investigate and resolve quality issues and deviations by performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive measures.
• Ensure the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of test results produced by the QA laboratory.
• Provide training to laboratory staff on quality assurance principles, procedures, and best practices.
• Stay current with industry standards and methodologies, including safety practices, statistical approaches to quality, gauge R&R techniques, and Six Sigma approaches, and incorporate them into lab practices where appropriate.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the QA laboratory and across the broader organization.
• Ensure accurate and complete documentation of quality control and assurance activities, including test records, validations, and audit findings.
• Prepare clear reports and presentations on quality control and assurance performance, trends, and findings for internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with other departments to ensure effective communication, alignment on quality expectations, and timely resolution of cross-functional issues.

Essential Skills

• Strong leadership and management skills with experience directing laboratory or QA teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex quality concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Extensive knowledge of quality assurance principles, practices, and regulations.
• Experience developing and implementing quality management systems, preferably aligned with ISO or similar standards.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret data and drive data-informed decisions.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite for documentation, reporting, and analysis.
• Experience in chemical or ink manufacturing environments.
• Experience in chemical engineering is beneficial for understanding processes and quality requirements in related industries.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Six Sigma certification is preferred and supports continuous improvement and structured problem-solving initiatives.
• Knowledge of SAP for enterprise resource planning and quality-related data management is a plus.
• Experience with Power BI or similar tools for data visualization and performance reporting is an advantage.
• Familiarity with JMP or comparable statistical software for advanced data analysis and quality studies is beneficial.
• Experience working with gauge R&R techniques, statistical methods for quality, and modern quality improvement methodologies is an asset.
• Exposure to safety-focused environments and EH&S practices within laboratory or manufacturing settings is desirable.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, salaried position within a quality-focused laboratory environment that supports chemical or ink manufacturing operations. The role involves overseeing QA labs in multiple locations, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and working with a mix of laboratory testing equipment, quality management systems, and digital tools such as Microsoft Office, SAP, Power BI, and JMP. The work setting emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, with a strong culture of collaboration, innovation, and global impact. You will be part of a diverse, international team working on solutions that enhance trust, security, and reliability in critical applications.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Springfield, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $160000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

401k Holidays PTO/Sick Leave Bonus Structure

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Springfield,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 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.