Director of Quality

Prometheus Energetics is an independent U.S.-based merchant supplier of solid rocket motors and warheads. Prometheus combines U.S. industrial speed and credibility with decades of combat-proven designs, manufacturing know-how, and technical training to deliver field-ready products at scale. Position Summary The Director of Quality is responsible for building, certifying, and sustaining the company’s Quality Management System (QMS). This leader establishes an independent quality function to ensure that products and processes meet contractual, technical, regulatory, safety, and customer requirements. Working across multiple teams, the Director converts product and process requirements into practical controls throughout the product lifecycle. The role owns enterprise quality strategy, AS9100 certification readiness, customer and regulatory quality interfaces, supplier quality, inspection and metrology, nonconformance and corrective action, and the use of performance data to prevent defects and improve cost, schedule, and mission assurance. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute the quality strategy, certification roadmap, annual objectives, budget, staffing plan, and operating rhythm aligned with company growth and production ramp plans. Build, lead, and develop a high-performing organization that may include quality engineering, supplier quality, inspection, metrology, document control, and quality systems personnel. Serve as the company’s independent quality authority; stop work, withhold product acceptance or shipment, and escalate risks when requirements are not met or product integrity could be compromised. Establish a culture grounded in quality, accountability, prevention, ethical decision-making, and the expectation that every employee owns product quality. Advise the COO and leadership team on quality risk, customer performance, resource needs, certification status, and systemic improvement priorities. Quality Management System & Certification Design, implement, document, and maintain an AS9100D/ISO 9001-compliant QMS suitable for a greenfield aerospace and defense manufacturing operation; lead initial certification, surveillance, and recertification activities. Own QMS processes including document and record control, internal audit, management review, risk and opportunity management, change control, training effectiveness, calibration, nonconformance, corrective action, and continual improvement. Ensure requirements from customer contracts, drawings, specifications, statements of work, FAR/DFARS clauses, Defense Contract Management Agency oversight, and applicable military or industry standards are identified, flowed down, implemented, and objectively verified. Establish audit schedules, train internal auditors, manage external and customer audits, and ensure findings are contained, corrected, and closed with effective systemic action. Evaluate and implement applicable standards and special-process controls, including AS9102 first article inspection, AS9145/APQP and production part approval, AS9103 key characteristics, and Nadcap requirements where contractually or operationally applicable. Product, Process, & Manufacturing Quality Approve manufacturing plans, travelers, work instructions, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, control plans, sampling plans, and quality gates to ensure complete and unambiguous verification of requirements. Provide quality oversight for energetic-material receipt, mixing, casting, curing, assembly, machining, nondestructive evaluation, test, storage, and final acceptance processes, as applicable to the product and facility. Establish disciplined configuration, traceability, lot control, material status identification, product preservation, foreign-object prevention, counterfeit-parts prevention, and record-retention practices. Lead prevention and resolution of defects using PFMEA, control plans, measurement system analysis, statistical process control, layered process audits, root‑cause analysis, and mistake‑proofing. Reduce scrap, rework, escapes, and variation while ensuring production pressure never overrides safety, technical compliance, or product integrity. Inspection, Metrology & Acceptance Establish receiving, in‑process, first article, source, and final inspection capabilities appropriate to precision aerospace and energetics manufacturing. Select and qualify inspection and test methods; ensure personnel competency and the appropriate use of dimensional, attribute, laboratory, and nondestructive inspection equipment. Own the calibration and measurement‑management system, including equipment control, traceability to recognized standards, out‑of‑tolerance evaluation, and gauge repeatability and reproducibility. Ensure objective evidence—including inspection records, test results, certificates, material pedigree, and acceptance documentation—is accurate, complete, controlled, and shipment‑ready. Maintain robust controls for identification, segregation, review, disposition, and verification of nonconforming material; administer the Material Review Board process within delegated authorities. Lead timely containment, failure analysis, root‑cause investigation, corrective and preventive action, and effectiveness verification for internal defects, supplier issues, customer complaints, and quality escapes. Use data and structured problem‑solving to identify systemic risk and prioritize improvements; prevent recurrence rather than relying on inspection alone. Partner with Operations and Engineering on Lean and Six Sigma initiatives that improve first‑pass yield, capability, flow, reliability, and cost of quality. Serve as the principal quality representative to customers, government quality representatives, registrars, and other external authorities; build trust through candor, responsiveness, and reliable closure of commitments. Review proposals and contracts for quality requirements, develop compliance plans, and ensure requirements are flowed into design, purchasing, manufacturing, inspection, test, and delivery documentation. Build a risk‑based supplier quality program covering selection, qualification, quality clauses, source surveillance, first article approval, performance monitoring, supplier corrective action, and development. Partner with Supply Chain and Engineering to qualify critical materials and special‑process suppliers, address obsolescence or alternate‑source needs, and strengthen supply‑base resilience without compromising product conformity. Performance Management Establish actionable dashboards, review performance with functional leaders, and hold owners accountable for recovery and improvement plans. Measures may include: First‑pass yield and process capability Cost of poor quality, scrap, and rework Internal defects, customer escapes, and returns Supplier defect rate and corrective‑action performance Audit findings and on‑time closure Corrective‑action aging, recurrence, and effectiveness Calibration and inspection‑plan compliance Customer satisfaction and quality rating Certification milestones and QMS maturity Quality team capability, engagement, and retention Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field At least 10 years of progressive quality experience in an aerospace and defense manufacturing environment, including at least five years leading quality teams Demonstrated experience implementing, certifying, and sustaining an AS9100-based QMS and leading registrar, customer, and government audits Strong working knowledge of quality engineering and manufacturing controls, including AS9102 first article inspection, configuration and document control, nonconformance/MRB, corrective action, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, MSA, calibration, and supplier quality Experience translating drawings, specifications, customer quality clauses, and contractual requirements into executable manufacturing and inspection controls Proven ability to build teams, develop talent, influence across functions, and make sound independent decisions in a fast‑paced startup and production environment Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and executive communication skills U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in engineering, business, quality, or a related discipline. Experience with solid rocket motors, propulsion, energetic materials, explosives, warheads, ammunition, or complex cast‑cure manufacturing. Experience standing up quality systems, laboratories, inspection capabilities, or certification programs in a greenfield facility or startup. ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or comparable credential. Experience with Lean philosophies, methodology, and tools Experience with Nadcap special processes, nondestructive evaluation, laboratory quality systems, and government source inspection. Experience deploying ERP/QMS software and digital quality records in an aerospace manufacturing environment. Work Environment & Physical Requirements Work is performed in office, construction, laboratory, and manufacturing environments, including areas subject to enhanced safety and security controls. Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment and comply with site safety, explosives‑safety, security, and access‑control requirements. Ability to move throughout a manufacturing site, participate in audits and reviews, work at a computer for extended periods, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Regular, reliable attendance is required. Periodic travel, overtime, off‑shift, or weekend support may be necessary during audits, startup, qualification, or critical production events. #J-18808-Ljbffr