Overview
Quality Engineer Jobs in Alton, IL at Riverbend Energetics
Title: Quality Engineer
Company: Riverbend Energetics
Location: Alton, IL
# Quality Engineer ## About the Role Riverbend Energetics is seeking a detail-oriented and technically rigorous Quality Engineer to join our Quality department in support of the design, manufacture, and delivery of life-critical energetic components for the U.S. defense industry. In this role, you will serve as a key guardian of product integrity, ensuring that our electric/stab detonators, CAD/PAD systems, and other energetic devices meet the stringent quality and safety standards demanded by our military customers and governing regulations. This is a high-impact position where your work directly contributes to the readiness and safety of U.S. warfighters. ## Key Responsibilities – Develop, implement, and maintain quality plans, inspection procedures, and acceptance criteria for energetic components in accordance with applicable military specifications, customer requirements, and internal documentation – Perform and oversee in-process and final inspections, including review of First Article Inspection (FAI) reports, lot acceptance testing, and non-conforming material dispositions – Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) investigations for internal nonconformances, customer complaints, and supplier escapes, driving timely and effective closure of Corrective Action Requests (CARs) – Support and participate in internal audits, customer source inspections, and Government Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) visits, serving as a primary point of contact for quality-related inquiries – Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to review and approve process changes, engineering orders, and new product introductions from a quality assurance perspective – Analyze quality data and metrics — including scrap, yield, and defect trends — to identify systemic issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives across production operations – Maintain and support the organization's Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with AS9100 and applicable regulatory requirements, including calibrated measurement equipment and documentation control ## Required Qualifications – Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical discipline – Minimum 3 years of quality engineering experience in a manufacturing environment subject to regulated or highly controlled processes – Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa/fishbone) and corrective action processes – Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, or an equivalent Quality Management System standard – Familiarity with military specifications, standards, and engineering drawing interpretation, including GD&T per ASME Y14.5 – Proficiency with quality tools including control plans, FMEAs, MSA/gauge R&R, and statistical process control (SPC) – Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, government representatives, and cross-functional teams – Must be a U.S. citizen ## Preferred Qualifications – Experience in the defense, aerospace, ordnance, or energetic materials industry – Familiarity with ATF, DoD, and/or DDESB regulations governing the manufacture and handling of explosive or energetic components – Experience supporting Government Source Inspection (GSI) and DCSA/DCMA oversight activities – ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or equivalent professional certification – Experience conducting AS9100 internal audits – Knowledge of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) controls and handling requirements relevant to electro-explosive devices (EEDs) ## What We Offer – Competitive salary ranging from $80,000 – $100,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and defense/energetics background – The opportunity to contribute to meaningful national defense programs in a specialized, technically challenging field where quality is never optional – A collaborative, safety-first work culture at a growing company where individual contributions are visible and valued – Long-term career stability and growth supported by an established portfolio of U.S. defense contracts
Key Requirements
- Energetic/Ordnance Industry Acumen: Riverbend manufactures life-critical devices — detonators and CAD/PAD systems — where a quality failure can mean warfighter casualties or mission failure. A candidate who already understands the unique hazards, regulatory landscape (ATF, DDESB, DoD), and technical constraints of energetic materials will contribute meaningfully from day one rather than requiring months of domain education. Generic manufacturing QE experience alone is insufficient for this environment.
- Rigorous Root Cause and Corrective Action Discipline: At Riverbend, nonconformances in energetic components carry consequences far beyond scrap cost — they can affect lot acceptance, government contract standing, and ultimately field safety. The QE must be capable of driving thorough, evidence-based RCCA investigations to true systemic resolution, not surface-level fixes. With government QARs and DCMA oversight as regular stakeholders, shallow corrective actions are professionally and contractually unacceptable.
- Government and Customer Interface Confidence: This role explicitly requires serving as a primary point of contact during customer source inspections, QAR visits, and DCMA/DCSA oversight activities. Riverbend's contracts depend on maintaining strong relationships with government representatives. A candidate who is uncomfortable under scrutiny, unfamiliar with government oversight protocols, or unable to communicate quality data credibly and professionally represents a risk to contract retention.
- Process Documentation Precision and QMS Ownership: Riverbend operates under AS9100 and military specifications that demand meticulous, auditable documentation. In energetics manufacturing, the quality plan, inspection procedure, or acceptance criterion that is vague or poorly maintained can directly contribute to a nonconformance escaping to the field. The ideal QE does not treat documentation as administrative overhead — they treat it as a technical control that protects both the product and the company.
- Safety-First Mindset with Accountability Under Pressure: In a 150-person company manufacturing life-critical defense components, the Quality Engineer is often the last line of defense before product ships to a warfighter. The ideal candidate must be willing to stop a shipment, escalate a concern, or hold a disposition — even when production schedules or customer pressure argue otherwise. This is a cultural fit issue as much as a technical one: Riverbend's mission depends on people who do not rationalize quality shortcuts.
About Riverbend Energetics
Riverbend Energetics is a defense and industrial manufacturer based in Alton, IL. We develop and produce energetic materials and specialty munitions for U.S. defense and allied customers. Our mission-critical work demands precision, safety, and a commitment to excellence.
