Senior Quality Manager

About Forterra
At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk. Our systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

About the role

Forterra is looking for a Senior Quality Manager to support a large autonomous research client in the Clarksburg, MD area. Key responsibilities will be to work closely with design and production teams to solve problems. The Senior Quality Manager will also own and manage all assigned CAPAs to ensure timely closure and that appropriate corrective actions are established and adhered to. The Senior Quality Manager will act as a key participant of the configuration management process where applicable. They will also help by responding to questions about how to achieve quality goals and implement changes to reduce the instance of human or machine errors. When working on a new project, the Senior Quality Manager will meet with customers (Internal/External) to discuss their quality expectations, including details about expected performance and visual appearance. They will also help design documents, processes, and procedures that clearly outline these specifications and communicate them to all responsible teams. As a leader of continuous improvement, the Senior Quality Manager will also observe the production process and identify how to implement cost effective improvements that drive consistent quality and improve efficiency. Lastly, the Senior Quality Manager will act as the escalation point for and support the Non-Conformance Management Review process.

What you'll do

• Understand and analyze complex problems and derive solutions.
• Effectively communicate technical issues, solutions, ideas, and concepts to a diverse audience including Managers, Customers, and Executive Management.
• Drives continuous improvement and defect reduction using data analysis.
• Support nonconformance/noncompliance investigations to analyze and determine root cause, define corrective actions, and ensure corrective action implementation is effective.
• Lead program and quality assurance reviews.
• Monitor and ensures completion of monthly quality performance metrics.
• Understand design intent, requirements, and specifications and drives reviews of customer and Forterra requirements to ensure all are consumed into product/process requirements.
• Review quality documentation including policies, procedures, processes, to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Maintain, enforce, and measure quality assurance processes.
• Drive counter measures for Quality processes not achieving prescribed KPI/PPI targets.
• Monitor and control the overall activities of the team and identifies problem areas requiring support.
• Assign duties and monitor quality of work; assure that staff conforms to government regulations and organizational policies and procedures.
• Support representation of Quality processes during internal and external third-party audits.
• Conduct internal audits of products, processes and procedures to drive compliance.
• Provide support in development and growth of the APQP process.
• Provide support on occasion to conduct supplier evaluations, assessments, and audits.
• Monitor and manages the Quality department budget.
• Develop talent within the team to increase performance.
• Proactively addresses performance issues on the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.
• Role may require up to 20% travel

What We’re Looking For

Mission-First Mindset - We put the needs of the mission and our customers first and understand that the US and its allies have no preordained right to victory in any future conflict.

Ownership Mentality - We’re looking for owners; those who have a natural bias to assume responsibility, a healthy dose of skepticism, and contribute to a culture of performance.

Technical Aptitude and Intellectual Curiosity - We are first and foremost a technology company, working at the leading edge of capabilities like machine learning, autonomy, distributed networking, and multi-modal sensor fusion.

Structured Thinker and Problem Solver - Leading technical programs requires clear communication and well-thought-out plans. A solution-driven approach, the ability to distill complexity into its essential, digestible components, and the ability to supervise execution are critical to ensure mission success.

360 Degree Leader - We are a non-hierarchical organization with a matrix structure that is dynamic and evolving. We expect you to be self-aware enough to recognize your position of unstated leadership within the company. You should have a demonstrated ability to lead and influence people through both formal and informal constructs and in situations where there is lack of clarity across teams

What We Need

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)
• 6+ years of Quality Management work experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical or Automotive manufacturing.
• 6+ years of direct Quality Management supervisory experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical or Automotive manufacturing.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Self-guided and ability to work independently.
• Auditing experience within the ISO9001:2015 quality management standard.
• Proven track record of understanding and managing First Article Inspection / PPAPs.
• Working knowledge of Material Review Board (MRB) standards, practices, and customer engagement.
• Experience facilitating effective Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA).
• Experience with Dimensional Inspection Techniques and demonstrated ability to read and interpret drawing and technical specifications.
• Experience with Advanced Product Quality Processes (PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, 8D, A3 Problem Solving)
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interface with different functions at all levels.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated work ethic, professional maturity, and strong attention to detail.
• AS9100, ISO 9001:2015, TS16949 or other quality management system equivalent.
• Experience in new program launch.
• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and in NetSuite or similar ERPs. (SAP, Plex, Etc.)
• Experience in Configuration Management
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

What We Love to See

• Master’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)
• 8+ years of Quality Management experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical or Automotive manufacturing quality.
• 8+ years of direct Quality Management supervisory experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical or Automotive manufacturing quality.
• ASQ Certification – Considered a strong plus. (CQE/CQA)
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-620, IPC J-STD-001, IPC-A-610) Considered a plus.
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) Trained.
• Lead Auditor certification. ISO9001:2015 or equivalent standard.
• Lean or Six Sigma experience is a strong plus.
• Compliance and Regulatory experience.
• Understanding and ability to use the DMAIC Process: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.
• Skilled in customer interaction and presentation.

US Salary Range
$135,000—$175,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here .

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices.Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.