Quality Specialist

Quality Specialist

This position will help the Company ensure compliance with customer and internal quality requirements in a high-reliability manufacturing environment. In addition, this role will support the Engineering and Production teams to track and assess quality performance metrics and facilitate root-causes analysis investigations.

Who are we

Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest company in California. Starting as a hardware supply store during the California Gold Rush and eventually assisted in the birth of the aerospace industry in Southern California by providing aircraft aluminum to early aerospace pioneers like Lindbergh, Douglas, and Lockheed. Today, Ducommun is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. We specialize in electronic and structural systems, producing complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission-critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications. Our Facility in Huntington Beach, CA is a global leader in the design, development, and production of segmented lightning diverter strips and innovative lightning protection devices for aerospace, defense, and wind turbine markets.

Job Summary: Inspection & Product Conformance

• Oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities
• Ensure correct interpretation of engineering drawings and specifications
• Review and approve inspection results (FAIRs, Test Result Reports, etc.)
• Work with management to determine product acceptability when issues arise

Nonconformance & Corrective Action

• Manage Returns and Nonconforming Material Reports (NCMRs, NCRs)
• Lead or support root cause analysis (5 Whys, etc.)
• Drive Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Coordinate MRB activity (use-as-is, repair, rework, scrap)

Quality System & Compliance, including CMMC

• Ensure compliance with AS9100, customer specs, and internal procedures/work instructions
• Maintain and enforce documented procedures, work instructions, and quality records
• Support certifications, audits, and surveillance visits (internal, customer, and regulatory)
• Ensure proper document control and revision usage on the floor

Customer & Supplier Quality Interaction

• Act as the primary quality contact for customers and vendors
• Support customer audits, escapes, and formal responses
• Review with management supplier quality performance and improvement plans

Data, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report KPIs (such as scrap and rework, audit findings, and customer escapes)
• Use quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Partner with Operations and Engineering on process improvements (such as artwork redesigns)

Daily Shop Floor Support

• Provide real-time support and field questions from production
• Interpret specs and resolve quality hurdles efficiently and timely
• Balance compliance with production flow to aid in ensuring on-time delivery (OTD)
• Timely escalate risks before they become customer issues
• Maintain visibility and observation of the shop floor to verify and ensure process adherence
• Answer the burdensome "should we ship this" question