Quality Assurance Engineer

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for developing, deploying, and sustaining robust quality systems that ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and internal standards across shipbuilding operations. This role focuses on preventing defects, eliminating repeat issues, and driving systemic improvements across multiple value streams including fabrication, assembly, outfitting, and testing.

The position supports both commercial and government contracts and requires a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks (e.g., NAVSEA, ABS, ISO) along with hands-on problem-solving and continuous improvement leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure process standardization and control across all shipbuilding value streams.
2. Develop and implement quality plans, inspection/test plans (ITPs), and control plans.
3. Drive integration of quality systems into production workflows to ensure “quality at the source.”
4. Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS) in alignment with ISO 9001 and applicable maritime/government standards (e.g., NAVSEA, ABS, USCG).

PREVENTION OF REPEAT ISSUES (CORE FOCUS)

1. Develop and manage systems to prevent recurrence of issues across programs and value streams.
2. Implement lessons learned programs and ensure knowledge is shared across departments.
3. Utilize data analytics to identify trends, recurring defects, and process weaknesses.
4. Standardize best practices and error-proofing (poka-yoke) solutions across operations.
5. Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure horizontal deployment of corrective actions.

COMPLIANCE & REGULATORY ASSURANCE

1. Ensure compliance with customer requirements, government specifications, and classification society rules.
2. Serve as a point of contact for internal audits, external audits, and customer/government inspections.
3. Interpret and cascade contractual and regulatory quality requirements into actionable processes.
4. Support documentation and traceability required for government contracts and audits.

NONCONFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & ROOT CAUSE

1. Lead investigations into nonconformances, escapes, and customer complaints.
2. Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, DMAIC, A3) to identify root causes.
3. Ensure corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) are effective, validated, and sustained.
4. Monitor trends and lead efforts to eliminate systemic issues, not just individual defects.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL VALUE STREAM SUPPORT

1. Collaborate with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure quality requirements are integrated early.
2. Support design reviews to ensure manufacturability and quality risks are mitigated upfront.
3. Work directly on the shop floor to validate processes and support first article inspections (FAI).
4. Engage suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve incoming material quality.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

1. Lead and support Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
2. Drive reduction of rework, scrap, and cost of poor quality (COPQ).
3. Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to quality performance.
4. Promote a culture of accountability, proactive quality, and operational excellence.

SUCCESS MEASURES

1. Reduction in repeat nonconformances across value streams
2. Improved audit performance and compliance scores
3. Decreased cost of poor quality (rework, scrap, warranty issues)
4. Increased effectiveness and closure rate of corrective actions
5. Standardization and adoption of best practices across programs

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. Combination of office, shipyard production floor, and onboard vessel environments.
2. May require working in industrial conditions, including noise, confined spaces, and varying weather conditions.
3. Occasional travel for supplier audits, ship trials, or customer support.

KEY COMPETENCIES

1. Thinking with focus on root cause vs symptom correction
2. Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
3. Ability to influence cross-functional teams without authority
4. Detail-oriented with a strong focus on compliance and documentation
5. Effective communicator with experience working with customers and regulators

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field or acceptable combination of related years of experience and education

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED

1. 3+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering role within the Shipbuilding, Heavy Manufacturing, or regulated industries.
2. Strong knowledge of:
   1. Quality systems (ISO 9001)
   2. Root cause analysis methodologies (8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone)
   3. Inspection and testing processes
3. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and contracts.

PREFERRED

1. Experience working with government or defense contracts (NAVSEA standards, ABS rules, or other maritime regulations) and compliance requirements.
2. Certification in ASQ CQE, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), or Lean Manufacturing.
3. Experience with welding, fabrication, and marine systems.
4. Familiarity with digital quality tools, ERP/MES systems, and data analytics

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION:

This position reports directly to the Quality Manager and has no direct reports.

DECISION MAKING:

Must continuously demonstrate excellent administrative judgment and assume responsibility for decisions and their consequences and results impacting the department’s associates and quality of service within the department.

COMMUNICATION:

The candidate must demonstrate an ability to lead meetings and write professional correspondence effectively. The candidate must also have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to listen, talk, and teach. The candidate must also demonstrate an all-pervasive positive attitude.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: QUALIFICATIONS:

This job operates in a shipyard manufacturing environment. This role must routinely use the personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, and products used in the welding department. The position also requires regular visits to the production floor, which requires climbing stairs and inspecting items in tight spaces. Frequent exposure to weld gases, arches, sparks, flashes, paints, chemicals, fumes, airborne particles, moving mechanical parts, and other production operations. The noise level in the work environment and job sites can be loud. Specific vision abilities required by this job include viewing welds through weld shields, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

GENERAL STATEMENT:

This description is a general statement of required primary duties and responsibilities performed regularly and continuously. It does not exclude other duties as assigned.