DCMA Quality Assurance Specialist
Ensures defense contractor compliance with federal quality standards and contract specifications for military hardware.
Overview
A Quality Assurance Specialist operates at the intersection of government policy and industrial production, spending significant time on the factory floor or in engineering offices. The daily rhythm is defined by systematic audits, technical inspections, and the review of contractor data to verify that weapons systems and equipment are built exactly to specification. Professionals in this role must navigate the tension between government requirements and private industry workflows, requiring a high degree of technical skepticism and objectivity.
The work involves solving complex problems related to manufacturing variances, material non-conformances, and systemic process failures. Success in this field requires a methodical mindset and the ability to interpret dense federal acquisition regulations alongside engineering blueprints. Individuals who thrive in this career tend to value procedural integrity and objective data, finding satisfaction in preventing the delivery of defective equipment to military end-users.
Responsibilities
- Perform risk-based surveillance of contractor manufacturing processes and quality management systems.
- Verify that end products conform to contract technical requirements through physical inspection and data analysis.
- Identify systemic deficiencies in contractor production and issue formal corrective action requests.
- Evaluate contractor quality data and metrics to predict and prevent future non-compliance issues.
- Collaborate with government engineers and contracting officers to resolve technical disputes and material shortages.
- Participate in formal design reviews and production readiness evaluations at contractor facilities.
- Document all oversight activities in official government systems of record to maintain audit trails.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience in industrial manufacturing, quality control, or engineering environments.
- Attainment of the required Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certification level in Quality Management.
- Comprehensive knowledge of ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality management system standards.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance for access to sensitive defense information.
- Proficiency in reading technical drawings, specifications, and complex contract language.
Nice to have
- Advanced degree in an engineering discipline or supply chain management.
- Professional certification such as a Certified Quality Auditor or Six Sigma Black Belt.
- Prior military experience with specific hardware platforms or logistics systems.
Work environment
- Primarily located at defense contractor manufacturing plants or industrial shipyards.
- Frequent movement between office settings and active production floor environments.
- Standard federal work schedule with occasional overtime to meet production milestones.
- Requirement for local travel to various vendor sites and sub-contractor facilities.
Benefits & growth
- Stable federal compensation structure under the General Schedule pay system.
- Clear career progression from trainee levels to senior technical or management roles.
- Access to comprehensive federal health insurance, retirement plans, and pension benefits.
- Structured professional development through the Defense Acquisition University.
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