Quality Assurance Specialist

About the Role

Join an industry‑leading aerospace innovator developing advanced laser, lidar, and electro‑optic technologies that support high‑impact missions across atmospheric sensing, laser communications, and next‑generation space systems. They are seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to join their team in Herndon, VA. The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for verifying that materials, components, assemblies, documentation, and manufacturing activities comply with applicable engineering requirements, contractual obligations, quality procedures, and industry standards.

• Perform receiving, in‑process, electronic, optical, cable, printed wiring assembly, and opto‑mechanical hardware inspections.
• Review purchase orders, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, material certifications, test reports, special‑process certifications, certificates of conformance, supplier documentation, and other technical records to determine applicable acceptance requirements and determine that all required documentation is complete, accurate, and traceable to the delivered product.
• Conduct visual and dimensional inspections using calibrated measuring and test equipment, including calipers, micrometers, pin gauges, thread gauges, microscopes, and automated measurement systems.
• Accurately document inspection results, objective evidence, acceptance status, serial‑number or lot traceability, and inspection records in the company’s quality and manufacturing systems.
• Initiate or support nonconformance reports, discrepancy reports, quality notifications, corrective actions, and Material Review Board activities.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, Stockroom, and Mission Assurance personnel to resolve inspection questions, documentation discrepancies, and product‑quality concerns.
• Confirm that measuring and inspection equipment is within its required calibration period before use; immediately report damaged, expired, missing, or potentially inaccurate equipment; and support the identification, evaluation, containment, and reinspection of hardware potentially affected by out‑of‑tolerance equipment, process deviations, supplier escapes, or documentation errors.
• Experience as Equipment Coordinator.
• Maintain proper identification, handling, packaging, preservation, and storage of inspected hardware, including ESD‑sensitive, moisture‑sensitive, contamination‑sensitive, and flight‑critical items.
• Follow established inspection priorities and communicate schedule, quality, documentation, material, or resource risks that could affect program commitments.
• Participate in internal audits, process assessments, root‑cause investigations, corrective‑action verification, and continuous‑improvement activities.
• Maintain an organized, clean, safe, and controlled inspection environment in accordance with applicable 5S/6S, ESD, safety, and FOD‑prevention requirements.
• Perform other quality‑related duties as assigned in support of operational, customer, and program requirements.

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to enter data, access electronic records, and use standard workplace applications.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions, procedures, drawings, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Ability to perform basic dimensional and visual inspections using hand‑held measuring tools.
• Ability to accurately document inspection results and communicate identified discrepancies.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain product and documentation traceability.

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during the workday.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or move materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Visual ability sufficient to inspect parts, workmanship, markings, and documentation, with or without corrective lenses or magnification equipment.
• Manual dexterity and hand‑eye coordination sufficient to handle small parts and operate hand‑held measuring and inspection equipment.
• Ability to safely work around inspection equipment, material‑handling equipment, and manufacturing or laboratory work areas.