Quality Assurance Specialist (Aircraft)

Air Force District of Washington•Andrews AFB, MD

11d

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Specialist serves in the evaluation and audit areas of aircraft maintenance. The role observes and determines the quality of in-process and completed maintenance, ensures technical and management procedures are followed, and promotes quality maintenance. It establishes and executes a planned, systematic quality assurance approach across aircraft maintenance to give maintenance managers confidence that aircraft and systems meet technical, safety, workload, and customer requirements. The specialist uses data collection methods for evaluations, inspections, and audits; assesses results; and determines effective ways to present findings to senior management. The position is a primary technical advisor within the maintenance organization on aircraft, ground support equipment, and processes, and serves as the Office of Primary Responsibility for group, wing, and base maintenance policy. It advises supervisors and employees on general policy and specific maintenance matters and manages and administers quality assurance programs. The role requires at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level or equivalent, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of experience and education. The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (CS) security clearance. It is mission-essential and designated as a key position and a Testing Designated Position subject to initial and periodic short-notice drug testing. Occasional work outside normal duty hours, shift work, overtime, irregular hours, and travel away from the normal duty station may be required. Physical duties regularly include extended periods of walking, climbing, standing, or bending.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (CS) security clearance.
Must pass initial and periodic short-notice drug testing.
Must meet the specialized experience, education, or combined experience-and-education qualification requirements for the GS-11 position.
Specialized experience route: at least one year of quality assurance-related experience at the GS-09 level or equivalent, such as monitoring or maintaining product or service quality, evaluating inspection systems, analyzing quality data, verifying compliance through inspection or testing, identifying deficiencies, preparing reports, or interpreting technical data.
Education route: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field, including quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production or industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or a related field.
A combination of education and experience may qualify if it meets at least 100% of the requirements; transcripts must be submitted when qualifying based on education.
Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements; one year at GS-09 is required for GS-11 consideration when TIG applies.
Comprehensive knowledge of quality assurance and control methods, principles, practices, statistical analysis, and sampling techniques for aeronautical systems and equipment.
Knowledge of internal and external quality-related activities and operating policies, including program management, contractor production engineering, workload planning, procurement, and supply.
Skill in identifying quality problems and resolving difficult and complex assignments.
Skill in planning and conducting studies, analyzing performance and quality data, and developing recommendations to correct quality-system deficiencies.
Skill in planning and developing quality systems for a facility.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships across departments and with using activities.
Ability to conduct technical reviews, analyze findings, and recommend corrections or improvements to quality assurance programs.
Ability to prepare technical reports on quality levels, identify specific problem areas, and recommend corrective action.
Must be removed from the Ready Reserve and cannot become a member of the Ready Reserve.
This key position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without impairing organizational effectiveness; the incumbent must be screened from military recall status unless an alternate is designated.
Must clearly identify duties, responsibilities, and hours per week for part-time or unpaid experience claimed.

Responsibilities

Establish and execute a planned, systematic quality assurance approach for all areas of aircraft maintenance.
Observe and determine the quality of in-process and completed aircraft maintenance.
Ensure prescribed technical and management procedures are followed and quality maintenance is achieved.
Use data collection techniques and procedures for evaluation, inspection, and audit programs.
Evaluate program results and determine appropriate methods and formats for presenting findings to higher-level management.
Serve as a primary technical advisor on aircraft, ground support equipment, and maintenance processes.
Serve as the Office of Primary Responsibility for group, wing, and base maintenance policy.
Advise supervisors and employees on general policy and specific maintenance matters.
Manage and administer quality assurance programs.
Plan and conduct studies, analyze performance and quality data, and recommend corrections for quality-system deficiencies.
Conduct technical reviews, analyze findings, and recommend quality assurance program corrections or improvements.
Prepare technical reports on quality levels, identify problem areas, and recommend corrective action.