Sr. Manager, Quality

Sr. Manager, Quality

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you're not just part of the system – you're a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation's defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you're driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you'll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let's redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Sr. Manager, Quality to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Sr. Director, EHS, Quality & Mission Assurance the Sr. Manager, Quality will be responsible for daily execution of the quality function, ensuring continuous improvement, consistent adherence to customer requirements, and reliable production of conforming hardware. This position leads and manages a team of Quality Engineers, as well as Quality Supervisors who oversee Quality Technicians and Inspectors, across weekday and weekend shifts at both the Irvine and Santa Maria locations. This leader will drive quality engineering activities, supplier quality, calibration/metrology, quality control oversight, and cross-functional alignment with Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Assembly & Test, and Program teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of Quality Engineers, Quality Supervisors, Inspectors, and Technicians to ensure strong performance and continuous skill growth
• Implement quality strategies, processes, and improvements that align with company objectives and aerospace industry standards
• Drive innovation and maturity in the company quality approach and culture
• Establish, review and analyze quality performance indicators and metrics to evaluate process capability, product reliability, nonconformances, and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and defect reduction using structured problem-solving and Lean/Six Sigma methodologies to reduce nonconformances and waste and improve manufacturing yield
• Oversee consistent execution of inspection, test, and quality control activities across all shifts to ensure repeatable, high-reliability product delivery
• Coordinate quality objectives with production and engineering teams to maximize product quality and reliability while controlling costs and reducing waste
• Maintain alignment with AS9100, ISO9001, DoD requirements, and customer-specific contractual deliverables
• Lead and manage the measuring and test equipment calibration/metrology program
• Address customer quality issues through structured investigations, timely corrective actions, and effective communication with internal teams and external stakeholders
• Promote awareness, ownership, and compliance with customer quality requirements throughout the organization
• Lead and support training efforts related to quality processes, inspection techniques, root cause analysis, and reliability expectations
• Provide regular updates on quality metrics, trends, risk areas, and improvement actions to site leadership
• Foster a culture of commitment, engagement, and action within the quality organization

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering or related technical field
• 8+ years of experience in quality engineering or quality management within aerospace, high‑reliability electronics, or similar industries
• 3+ years of experience leading quality engineering or quality assurance teams in a fast-paced production environment
• Strong understanding of AS9100, ISO9001, related aerospace quality standards, and customer requirements
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and lead cross-functional problem-solving initiatives
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with quality engineering tools, methods, and structured problem-solving
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, supply chain, and program management
• High energy, curiosity, and willingness to challenge the status quo and develop innovative solutions
• Ability to learn new product lines, systems, and technologies beyond initial areas of expertise
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field
• Experience with satellite systems, assemblies, subsystem verification, or related hardware
• Certifications such as CQE, CQM, or similar
• Experience with APQP or AS9145 requirements
• Familiarity with rapid‑pace aerospace production/manufacturing environments

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

Salary Range

$155,000 - $195,000 USD

Full-time positions only:

Benefits

• 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

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Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.