Quality Engineer

Hiring for a Quality Engineer in Manchester!

Job Description

The Quality Engineer will provide immediate, hands-on quality support within a dynamic aerospace manufacturing environment. This role serves as a primary quality resource on the manufacturing floor, ensuring products and processes comply with AS9100, customer requirements, engineering specifications, and internal quality standards. The position plays a key role in supporting new customer launches by interpreting customer contracts, identifying quality requirements, and flowing those requirements into internal processes while driving continuous quality improvement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary quality engineering resource for the manufacturing floor, providing day-to-day support for production activities.

• Interpret customer contracts, specifications, and quality clauses to identify applicable quality requirements and translate them into internal processes and documentation.

• Ensure products and processes comply with AS9100, customer-specific aerospace quality requirements, engineering specifications, and internal quality management system standards.

• Lead and support root cause analysis and corrective action activities (RCCA) to address nonconformances and prevent recurrence.

• Manage and disposition nonconforming material, including participation in Material Review Board (MRB) activities as required.

• Plan, perform, and review First Article Inspections (FAI) and related documentation to meet customer and industry standards.

• Support and maintain the quality management system, including process compliance, documentation control, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Participate in and support internal, customer, process, and quality system audits, ensuring findings are addressed through effective corrective actions.

• Conduct gap analyses against AS9100 and customer requirements, and develop or update compliant quality procedures, work instructions, and related documentation.

• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, and leadership to resolve quality issues and improve processes.

• Support supplier quality activities, including review of supplier quality performance, documentation, and compliance with applicable standards.

• Apply tools such as PFMEA, PPAP, and other quality planning methods to ensure robust processes and product quality.

• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T to validate product conformity and support inspection and manufacturing teams.

• Communicate directly with customers on quality-related topics when needed, representing the organization in a professional and solutions-focused manner.

• Contribute to ongoing quality improvement initiatives, leveraging data and quality metrics to identify trends and drive process enhancements.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of five years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Quality engineering expertise in areas such as root cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement.

• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and customer-specific aerospace quality requirements.

• Experience with nonconforming material control and participation in MRB activities.

• Proven experience conducting root cause analysis and developing effective corrective action plans (RCCA).

• Experience planning, performing, and reviewing First Article Inspections (FAI).

• Hands-on experience with quality management systems and process compliance in a manufacturing setting.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T to assess product conformity.

• Experience reviewing customer contracts, specifications, and quality clauses and translating them into actionable internal requirements.

• Experience supporting internal, customer, process, or quality system audits.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to work directly with customers and cross-functional teams.

• Ability to perform gap analyses and develop compliant quality documentation and procedures.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Aerospace manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.

• Composite manufacturing experience is a key priority and highly valued.

• Experience with supplier quality activities and collaboration with Supply Chain.

• Familiarity with PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) and PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).

• Experience working within ISO 9001 or similar quality management system frameworks.

• Bachelors degree is preferred but not required; relevant progressive manufacturing quality experience will be considered.

• Experience working in environments with increased quality activity related to new product or customer launches.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, startup-like environment with cutting-edge technology.

Work Environment

This role is based on-site in an aerospace and defense manufacturing environment in Manchester, Connecticut. The position requires regular and visible presence on the manufacturing floor, with close interaction with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, and leadership. The standard work schedule is generally Monday through Thursday, from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering Fridays off. The facility features modern office and manufacturing space, with a startup atmosphere, cutting-edge technology, and significant opportunities for growth. The workplace offers numerous employee perks, including free snacks and drinks and lunch catered once per week. Work may involve ITAR-controlled products, technical data, or manufacturing environments, and the role requires individuals to be legally authorized to work in the United States. No immediate travel is anticipated.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Manchester, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $46.63 - $61.06/hr.

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.

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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Manchester, CT.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Manchester,CT.

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 [email protected] 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.