Quality Assurance Specialist

The Quality Assurance Specialist serves as a quality inspector and documentation specialist for shipbuilding and ship repair projects on U.S. Navy vessels. This role ensures that welding, fabrication, and repair work is performed correctly and fully documented in accordance with Navy standards and contract requirements, with a strong focus on compliance, inspections, and meticulous record keeping.

• Review weld records, inspection reports, and all quality assurance documentation to verify accuracy and completeness.
• Audit welding, fabrication, and repair work on Navy ships to confirm compliance with applicable standards, specifications, and contract requirements.
• Verify that shipyard personnel followed approved Navy procedures and process control requirements during fabrication and repair activities.
• Check that materials, repairs, and structural work meet specified technical requirements, including applicable NAVSEA and MIL-STD standards.
• Read and interpret drawings, technical documents, specifications, and work items to ensure completed work matches all stated requirements.
• Identify missing paperwork, documentation errors, and potential compliance issues within QA records and work packages.
• Prepare, review, maintain, and close out structural QA documentation in accordance with NAVSEA, MIL-STD, contract, and work-item requirements.
• Review work packages, weld and inspection records, material documentation, and related QA records for completeness and compliance.
• Highlight documentation or compliance deficiencies and work with relevant teams to resolve issues and bring records into full compliance.
• Help drive the closeout of quality records so that completed work can be approved by the Navy in a timely and accurate manner.
• Manage documentation and record control processes to ensure quality assurance records are organized, traceable, and up to date.
• Apply strong attention to detail to detect errors, inconsistencies, and nonconformities in technical documents and QA paperwork.
• Prioritize multiple urgent QA tasks in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and adherence to procedures.
• Collaborate with production and inspection personnel to align quality assurance documentation with actual work performed on the ships.

• Extensive experience with quality assurance for U.S. Navy ship repair, alteration, fabrication, or structural repair work.
• Hands-on fabrication and welding quality assurance experience, including inspection of ship structures and related components.
• Strong working knowledge of NAVSEA Standard Items (009-series), including 009-04 (Quality Management System), 009-09 (Process Control Procedures), and 009-12 (Weld, Fabricate, and Inspect), or corresponding requirements in applicable contract-year Standard Items.
• Thorough working knowledge of MIL-STD-1689, covering fabrication, welding, and inspection of ship structure.
• Proven ability to prepare, review, maintain, and close out structural QA documentation in line with NAVSEA, MIL-STD, contract, and work-item requirements.
• Experience reviewing work packages, weld and inspection records, material documentation, and other QA records for completeness and compliance.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, work items, and technical requirements and to identify documentation or compliance deficiencies.
• Proficiency in reviewing technical drawings and specifications for shipbuilding and ship repair projects.
• Strong documentation and record management skills, including document control for QA records.
• High attention to detail and the ability to identify compliance issues, errors, and inconsistencies in technical and QA documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for tracking, analyzing, and maintaining QA documentation and records.
• Capability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with a significant backlog of work and demanding production schedules.
• Ability to prioritize multiple urgent tasks, maintain accuracy under tight deadlines, and drive QA documentation to completion without sacrificing compliance or quality.
• Highly organized and self-directed work style, with a strong sense of urgency and accountability for quality outcomes.

• Knowledge of NAVSEA standards and Navy ship repair requirements; candidates without direct NAVSEA experience may be considered if they meet other core expectations.
• Experience with documentation quality assurance, technical documentation, and technical drawing review.
• Familiarity with inspection processes related to welding, mechanical fabrication, and structural analysis in a shipyard or industrial environment.
• Preferred experience with AutoCAD for reviewing or working with technical drawings.
• Experience working in environments focused on inspection, weld quality, blueprint reading, mechanical fabrication, and analysis.
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating compliance against standards, specifications, and contract requirements.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with production, inspection, and QA teams regarding documentation and compliance issues.

This is a full-time, onsite role in a ship repair environment, working Monday through Friday from 0600 to 1430. The position operates in an extremely fast-paced, high-pressure setting with a significant backlog of work and demanding production schedules. You will work closely with inspection and fabrication teams, reviewing welds, blueprints, and mechanical and structural work. The environment requires strict adherence to quality standards and procedures, with frequent coordination around inspection, weld quality, blueprint interpretation, and fabrication analysis. Paid time off and holiday benefits are available, and the role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to complex naval ship repair projects in a dynamic, hands-on setting.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Portland, OR.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Portland,OR.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.

About Actalent

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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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.