Quality Engineer

Job Title: Senior Quality Engineer

Job Description

The Senior Quality Engineer will play a key role in maintaining and improving the Quality Management System while supporting day-to-day manufacturing, inspection, and customer requirements. This role is ideal for a hands-on aerospace quality professional who enjoys solving real engineering problems and working closely with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and customers in a small-team environment.

Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing and inspection of pressure gauges, accelerometers, and precision machined components.
• Review engineering drawings and specifications for quality requirements.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCCA) and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Lead nonconformance management, MRB activity, and disposition decisions.
• Drive first article inspection (FAI) activities per AS9102 requirements.
• Maintain and improve AS9100 and ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Prepare for and support internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Author, revise, and control quality procedures, work instructions, and records.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, drawings, and contract requirements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
• 5–10 years of Quality Engineering experience within aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, and AS9102 (First Article Inspection).
• Experience with precision machining, mechanical assemblies, or instrumentation.
• Hands-on experience with root cause analysis tools (5 Whys, Fishbone, corrective actions).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Experience working in a small or mid-size aerospace manufacturing environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in quality engineering, quality documentation, requirements reviews, root cause analysis, corrective actions.
• Knowledge in Quality Management System (QMS), non-conformance reports, quality audits, internal audits.
• Skills in assigning, directing, and developing quality inspection protocols for inspectors, including inspection reports and tools such as calipers and micrometers.
• Expertise in quality assurance, supplier quality, quality control, and non-conforming engineering inspection.

Work Environment

This position is set in a hands-on aerospace manufacturing environment, supporting day-to-day quality activities across machining, assembly, calibration, and inspection operations. The role requires regular presence on the production floor, close collaboration with inspectors and machinists, and active involvement in resolving real-time quality issues. The small-team structure allows quality engineers to move quickly from problem identification to corrective action, making this an ideal environment for someone who prefers practical execution over purely administrative quality work.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Ana, CA.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $63.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Santa Ana,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Feb 13, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

Salary : $50 - $63