Director of Quality

About the Role

We are looking for a Director of Quality to set the strategic direction of our quality management system and lead a team responsible for maintaining the highest standards of product conformance across a precision aerospace and defense manufacturing operation. This role owns the AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality system, drives continuous improvement across engineering, production, and supply chain, and serves as the primary quality authority for customers, auditors, and regulatory bodies.

This is a strategic leadership position for someone who can operate at both the executive and shop-floor level: setting policy and metrics that drive company-wide performance, while remaining hands-on enough to resolve root-cause issues, coach inspectors and quality engineers, and defend the quality system in front of customers and third-party auditors. The right person will build a culture where quality is a competitive advantage, not a checkpoint.

What You’ll Do

• Own and continuously improve the company's AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, including documentation, internal audits, and management review.
• Lead, develop, and hold accountable the quality team, including quality engineers, inspectors, and the Material Review Board (MRB) function.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer and regulatory audits (AS9100D, ITAR, DFARS, and customer-specific quality requirements), including preparation, hosting, and closure of findings.
• Set quality strategy and KPIs (scrap, rework, escapes, on-time inspection, supplier quality) and report performance to executive leadership.
• Partner with Program Management, Engineering, and Manufacturing to resolve quality issues, drive root-cause/corrective action (RCCA), and prevent recurrence.
• Oversee supplier quality management, including supplier approval, source inspection, and corrective action for outsourced processes and purchased material.
• Direct nonconformance and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes, ensuring disciplined root-cause analysis and effective closure.
• Own calibration, inspection equipment strategy, and investment planning (CMM, optical/scanner-based inspection, and related metrology).
• Ensure compliance with First Article Inspection (AS9102), GD&T/ASME Y14.5 interpretation, and customer flow-down requirements.
• Build and mentor the quality organization, including succession planning and professional development for quality engineers and inspectors.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and accountability across the quality function and the broader organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Why This Role

This role offers the opportunity to shape the quality strategy of a growing, certified aerospace and defense manufacturer at the executive level. You will have direct influence over customer relationships, company reputation, and long-term growth, while leading a team you can build in your own image.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field; advanced degree or ASQ certification (CQE, CQM, CMQ/OE) a plus
• 12+ years of progressive quality experience in an aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated precision manufacturing environment, including 5+ years in a quality leadership role
• Demonstrated experience owning an AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, including successful management of customer and registrar audits
• Working knowledge of ITAR, DFARS, and other defense-industry regulatory requirements
• Deep understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) and associated inspection techniques, including CMM and optical/scanner-based inspection
• Proven track record leading MRB, RCCA/CAPA, and supplier quality programs
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and quality management software
• Strong executive presence, with excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to represent the company to customers and auditors
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality team

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Company match on retirement

Compensation

• Pay Range $90,000 - $145,000 can be flexible depending on experience.