Quality Control Manager

We are seeking an experienced Quality Control Manager to lead and oversee quality assurance and quality control operations within a precision machine shop supporting the aerospace and defense industry. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that all machined components, manufacturing processes, and inspection activities meet stringent customer specifications, engineering requirements, and applicable industry standards.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in precision machining, dimensional inspection, quality management systems, and aerospace manufacturing requirements. This role requires a hands-on leader who can drive continuous improvement, maintain regulatory compliance, and foster a culture of quality throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality Management: Develop, implement, and maintain quality control procedures, inspection processes, and quality management systems to ensure compliance with customer and industry requirements.
• Aerospace Compliance: Ensure adherence to applicable aerospace and defense quality standards, including AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.
• Inspection & Testing: Oversee first-article inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, final inspections, and verification of precision-machined components against engineering drawings and specifications.
• Technical Drawings & GD&T: Interpret complex engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), blueprints, and technical specifications to verify product conformity.
• Measurement & Metrology: Ensure proper use, calibration, and maintenance of precision measurement equipment, including CMMs, micrometers, calipers, height gauges, and other inspection tools.
• Nonconformance Management: Lead the identification, documentation, investigation, and resolution of nonconforming materials and products. Oversee root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Audit Management: Lead internal quality audits, support customer audits, and coordinate external certification audits to maintain compliance and certification requirements.
• Supplier Quality: Evaluate supplier performance, review incoming material certifications, and address supplier-related quality issues.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze quality metrics, scrap rates, rework, and customer complaints to identify opportunities for process improvement and defect prevention.
• Team Leadership: Supervise, train, and develop quality inspectors and technicians while establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with manufacturing, engineering, CNC programming, and production teams to resolve quality issues and improve manufacturing processes.
• Documentation & Traceability: Maintain accurate inspection records, material certifications, calibration records, first-article reports, and other required quality documentation.
• Customer Relations: Serve as a primary point of contact for customer quality concerns, corrective action requests, and quality-related technical discussions.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of quality control or quality assurance experience in a precision manufacturing or machine shop environment.
• Previous experience supporting aerospace and/or defense manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing a quality department, supervising inspectors, or leading quality initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with first-article inspections and AS9102 documentation requirements.
• Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and machining specifications.
• Experience with precision inspection equipment and dimensional measurement techniques.
• Knowledge of nonconformance reporting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with internal audits, customer audits, and quality documentation.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CNC machining, including milling, turning, and complex precision-machined components.
• Experience with CMM programming or operation and advanced metrology techniques.
• ASQ Certified Quality Manager, Certified Quality Engineer, or comparable quality certification.
• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience with defense contract quality requirements, material traceability, and customer flow-down requirements.
• Familiarity with government or military specifications and applicable contract-specific quality clauses.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reduction in scrap, rework, and nonconformance rates.
• On-time completion of inspections and first-article reports.
• Customer satisfaction and reduction in customer complaints.
• Successful completion of internal and external audits.
• Corrective action closure rates and effectiveness.
• Supplier quality performance.
• Sustained compliance with applicable quality standards and customer requirements.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Opportunity to lead quality operations in a precision manufacturing environment.
• Collaborative team environment supporting aerospace and defense customers.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous improvement.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a detail-oriented, technically capable quality leader who understands the relationship between machining processes, engineering tolerances, inspection requirements, and customer expectations. They will be comfortable working directly on the shop floor, partnering with machinists and engineers, and implementing practical solutions that improve product quality without compromising production efficiency.