Quality Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Quality Manager
Location: Irvine, CA
Department: Quality
Reports To: Site Leadership
Classification: Exempt
Shift: 1st Shift; approximately 7:00 AM–3:30 PM with flexibility based on business needs
Compensation: $135,000–$155,000 annually

Now Hiring: Quality Manager (Irvine, CA)

FLAG's mission is to show our contractors & clients the best this industry can offer by upholding our principles of leadership, service, and exceptionalism.

A confidential aerospace manufacturing company in Irvine, CA is seeking an experienced Quality Manager to lead plant-wide quality operations within a fast-paced, highly vertically integrated manufacturing environment.

1. Job Summary

The Quality Manager will lead the Quality Engineering and Quality Inspection teams, overseeing approximately 15 quality professionals within a manufacturing operation of approximately 140 employees. This position is responsible for maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, customer, and regulatory requirements, and driving improvements in product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong aerospace manufacturing experience. The Quality Manager will oversee plant-wide quality while partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, customers, suppliers, and site leadership.

2. Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Quality Leadership

• Lead, coach, mentor, and manage the performance of Quality Engineers and Quality Inspectors.

• Develop team capabilities and establish clear expectations for quality, accountability, and responsiveness.

• Lead the Quality organization through operational and business changes.

• Foster a culture of quality, ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Maintain and continuously improve the facility's Quality Management System (QMS).

• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, applicable aerospace standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Support compliance with applicable 14 CFR Part 21 requirements.

• Conduct and support internal audits, customer audits, and third-party assessments.

• Maintain quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, and related documentation.

• Identify compliance gaps and ensure corrective actions are completed.

Quality Engineering & Inspection

• Provide leadership for plant-wide Quality Engineering and Quality Inspection activities.

• Ensure inspection processes and controls meet product, customer, and regulatory requirements.

• Monitor manufacturing and product quality to identify risks and recurring issues.

• Oversee calibration and maintenance requirements for inspection and measurement equipment.

• Partner with Operations and Engineering to ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet quality standards.

Corrective Action & Problem Solving

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for significant quality issues.

• Analyze nonconformances, quality data, and trends to identify systemic problems.

• Ensure corrective actions address root causes and verify effectiveness.

• Train and mentor employees on structured problem-solving and corrective-action methodologies.

• Drive resolution of recurring product and manufacturing quality issues.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Interface with customers and suppliers regarding quality, compliance, corrective actions, and technical requirements.

• Support customer audits, quality reviews, and technical discussions.

• Coordinate timely responses to customer quality concerns.

• Partner with suppliers and internal teams to resolve quality issues and ensure requirements are satisfied.

Plant & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary Quality leader for the manufacturing facility.

• Participate in plant leadership meetings and operational decision-making.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and other functional leaders.

• Communicate quality risks, metrics, corrective actions, and priorities to leadership.

• Promote plant-wide accountability for product and process quality.

Continuous Improvement & Metrics

• Establish, monitor, and report key quality metrics and performance indicators.

• Use quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies as appropriate.

• Lead initiatives that improve product reliability, process capability, and customer satisfaction.

• Support new product development and new product introduction (NPI) activities.

Technology & AI

• Use appropriate AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and cost efficiency.

• Identify practical AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs before use.

3. Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or a minimum of 5+ years of quality management experience within aerospace manufacturing.

• Strong aerospace manufacturing quality experience.

• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and Quality Management Systems.

• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and applicable aerospace quality requirements.

• Experience leading Quality Engineering, Quality Inspection, or comparable quality teams.

• Experience conducting or supporting quality-system audits.

• Strong experience with root cause analysis and corrective action.

• Ability to train others on structured problem-solving methodologies.

• Experience analyzing quality data, nonconformances, trends, and performance metrics.

• Experience developing quality procedures, work instructions, and inspection plans.

• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers on quality matters.

• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop quality professionals.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through organizational change.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred

• Experience in a mid-sized, high-mix, vertically integrated aerospace manufacturing facility.

• Internal auditor training or certification.

• Knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21.

• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.

• Experience with NPI and quality planning.

• Experience managing calibration and inspection-equipment programs.

• Experience supporting customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.

4. Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods and perform computer-based work.

• Ability to regularly walk and stand throughout manufacturing and inspection areas.

• Frequent computer use and participation in leadership meetings.

• Ability to work safely around active manufacturing operations.

• Ability to wear required PPE when entering designated production areas.