Also called: Defense Contract Quality Assurance Specialist, Government Source Inspector
A government inspector who works inside defense factories, checking that jets, missiles and parts are built right before the military accepts them.
QA specialists spend days on factory floors watching tests, inspecting welds and electronics, and auditing the contractor's quality records. If something fails, they can stop shipments until it's fixed. Many are stationed full-time at one plant like a shipyard or missile factory.
Federal GS civilian pay, 2026 estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree in engineering, science or business, or equal technical/quality experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Management.
Growing about average. Federal civilian defense jobs track the defense budget; steady hiring with retirements (approx.).
Medium risk for 10 years. Sensors and data help; inspecting and judging quality on the floor stays human.
Classes: Physics, Engineering/shop, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1041.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.