Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality Engineer (CWI / Mechanical / QC)

Compa Industries
is searching for qualified candidates for a
Quality Engineer 4
position supporting
Plutonium Infrastructure Quality (IQPA-PIQ)
at
Los Alamos National Laboratory (TA-50 / TA-55 area)
.

Salary:
$84-$90/hr + Full time Benefits and Per Diem (if located more than 100 miles from facility)

Location:
Los Alamos, NM (Onsite – 100%)

Citizenship:
US Citizenship Required

Work Schedule:
4/10s (may include nights/weekends; potential for 24/7 shift rotation)

Clearance:
Q Clearance (not required to start, but must obtain)

Impact

This role supports critical plutonium infrastructure projects by ensuring quality control compliance across complex nuclear and radiological environments. The Quality Engineer will play a key role in maintaining safety, regulatory adherence, and construction integrity for mission-critical national security operations.

🚫 Mandatory Experience Requirement – Read Before Applying

- Candidates
must hold a current or prior AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification
– this is non-negotiable.
- Candidates
must be able to work in radiological environments
, including use of PPE/respirators and accessing facilities via ladders/scaffolding.
- Candidates
must be eligible to obtain a Q Clearance
inability to do so will result in disqualification.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Perform Level II QC inspections across welding and mechanical scopes
• Evaluate problems and recommend corrective actions
• Develop and update inspection procedures, reports, checklists, and protocols
• Serve as Nonconformance Report Coordinator (NCRC), tracking and driving closure of reports
• Monitor operations for compliance with project plans, specifications, and QC requirements
• Perform inspections and testing per established plans and procedures
• Document and record inspection/test results
• Implement quality control policies and procedures
• Apply expert-level QC techniques and statistical process control methods
• Identify measurement methods, tools, and data collection points
• Analyze data to identify failure modes, trends, and improvement opportunities
• Evaluate performance metrics and effectiveness of QC processes
• Support quality integration within formal project management frameworks

Minimum Qualifications

- Current or prior
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
certification
- Advanced knowledge of quality regulations, policies, and procedures
- Strong ability to interpret blueprints, schematics, and technical documents
- Experience conducting research, evaluating alternatives, and recommending QC solutions
- Knowledge of QC standards (ASME, ISO, ANSI/ASME NQA-1, US NRC guidelines)
- Experience applying quality requirements to construction projects
- Technical knowledge across engineering, construction, testing, and operations practices
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills
- Expert-level interpretation of technical drawings and documentation
- Expert knowledge of construction codes and standards
- Experience applying quality requirements within formal project management methodologies

Desired Skills

- Strong background in
welding, mechanical, and NDE inspections
- Experience in
nuclear, DOE, or radiological environments
(preferred but not required)
- Experience with
rebar fabrication, structural steel inspections, and anchor bolt installation
- Background in
commercial nuclear power, oil & gas, or refinery environments
- Additional certifications (e.g., fire stopping, NDT methods such as PT/UT/RT) are a plus
- Basic computer skills (Word, Excel) for reporting and documentation

Education and Experience Requirements

- Quality Engineer 4:
BA/BS Degree & 8+ years experience OR 20 years of experience without a degree.
- Candidates with slightly less experience may be considered, though below 8 years is less competitive

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

We strive to provide careers, not just jobs, for our employees. We invest in and serve the communities where we work and live. We provide best-in-class administrative, professional, and technical services to solve complex problems to meet customer mission-critical objectives.

For over 30 years, Compa has been a trusted partner in progress. We combine decades of technical expertise with a forward-thinking spirit, tackling intricate challenges in nuclear facilities alongside the brightest minds in science and engineering. Join us, and don't just build your career—build the future—with competitive compensation, a collaborative culture, and the chance to make a real difference for national security and beyond.

COMPA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin.