Quality Auditor / Quality Specialist

We are seeking a highly experienced Quality Auditor / Quality Specialist to support the maintenance and continuous improvement of our Quality Management System (QMS). This role will have a strong focus on internal quality audits, AS9100 compliance, QMS documentation, corrective actions, and production quality controls.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in aerospace, defense, or space manufacturing, with a strong understanding of AS9100 requirements, internal auditing, RCCA/CAPA, AS9102 First Article Inspection, and configuration management.

This individual will play an important role in helping the organization transition from a development/R&D environment into a structured production operation and will champion a proactive, prevention-focused quality culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and conduct internal quality audits across engineering, manufacturing, and other functional areas.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with AS9100 and applicable aerospace quality requirements.
• Review, develop, update, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, procedures, and QMS documentation.
• Partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to implement production-level quality controls.
• Support AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAI) and configuration management activities.
• Investigate non-conformances and facilitate structured root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Lead and support RCCA/CAPA activities using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, or equivalent frameworks.
• Track corrective actions through closure and verify their effectiveness.
• Coach and collaborate with engineers, technicians, manufacturing, and operations teams to establish preventive quality practices.
• Help transition quality processes from reactive issue resolution toward proactive quality assurance and prevention.
• Compile quality records, audit findings, metrics, and supporting documentation for external surveillance and recertification audits.
• Support continuous improvement of the organization's QMS and quality processes.
• Maintain accurate quality documentation and task tracking using tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Odoo.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Engineering or other STEM degree strongly preferred.
• 24+ years of quality assurance/quality engineering experience in the aerospace, defense, or space industry.
• Extensive hands-on experience with AS9100.
• Proven experience conducting internal quality audits.
• Recognized quality auditor qualification or equivalent experience, such as:
  • ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
  • AS9100 Internal Auditor
  • AS9100 Lead Auditor
  • Equivalent aerospace quality auditor certification/experience.
• Strong experience with Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) and structured methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, CAPA, or equivalent.
• Hands-on knowledge of AS9102 First Article Inspection (FAI).
• Experience with configuration management/control.
• Strong understanding of QMS documentation, SOPs, work instructions, and quality procedures.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the transition from development/R&D to production.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a fast-paced aerospace, defense, or space startup/small-company environment.
• Experience with production ramp-up, production readiness, or manufacturing scale-up.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, and Odoo.
• Experience preparing organizations for AS9100 surveillance, certification, or recertification audits.
• Experience working directly with engineering, manufacturing, technicians, and operations teams.
• Spacecraft, launch vehicle, rocket, or other complex aerospace hardware experience.