Director of Quality

About the Role We are looking for a Director of Quality to set the strategic direction of our quality management system and lead a team responsible for maintaining the highest standards of product conformance across a precision aerospace and defense manufacturing operation. This role owns the AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality system, drives continuous improvement across engineering, production, and supply chain, and serves as the primary quality authority for customers, auditors, and regulatory bodies. This is a strategic leadership position for someone who can operate at both the executive and shop-floor level: setting policy and metrics that drive company-wide performance, while remaining hands-on enough to resolve root-cause issues, coach inspectors and quality engineers, and defend the quality system in front of customers and third-party auditors. The right person will build a culture where quality is a competitive advantage, not a checkpoint. What You’ll Do Own and continuously improve the company's AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, including documentation, internal audits, and management review. Lead, develop, and hold accountable the quality team, including quality engineers, inspectors, and the Material Review Board (MRB) function. Serve as the primary point of contact for customer and regulatory audits (AS9100D, ITAR, DFARS, and customer-specific quality requirements), including preparation, hosting, and closure of findings. Set quality strategy and KPIs (scrap, rework, escapes, on-time inspection, supplier quality) and report performance to executive leadership. Partner with Program Management, Engineering, and Manufacturing to resolve quality issues, drive root-cause/corrective action (RCCA), and prevent recurrence. Oversee supplier quality management, including supplier approval, source inspection, and corrective action for outsourced processes and purchased material. Direct nonconformance and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes, ensuring disciplined root-cause analysis and effective closure. Own calibration, inspection equipment strategy, and investment planning (CMM, optical/scanner-based inspection, and related metrology). Ensure compliance with First Article Inspection (AS9102), GD&T/ASME Y14.5 interpretation, and customer flow-down requirements. Build and mentor the quality organization, including succession planning and professional development for quality engineers and inspectors. Champion a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and accountability across the quality function and the broader organization. Perform other duties as assigned. Why This Role This role offers the opportunity to shape the quality strategy of a growing, certified aerospace and defense manufacturer at the executive level. You will have direct influence over customer relationships, company reputation, and long-term growth, while leading a team you can build in your own image. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field; advanced degree or ASQ certification (CQE, CQM, CMQ/OE) a plus 12+ years of progressive quality experience in an aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated precision manufacturing environment, including 5+ years in a quality leadership role Demonstrated experience owning an AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, including successful management of customer and registrar audits Working knowledge of ITAR, DFARS, and other defense-industry regulatory requirements Deep understanding of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) and associated inspection techniques, including CMM and optical/scanner-based inspection Proven track record leading MRB, RCCA/CAPA, and supplier quality programs Experience with ERP/MRP systems and quality management software Strong executive presence, with excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to represent the company to customers and auditors Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality team Benefits Comprehensive Benefits Package Company match on retirement Compensation Pay Range $90,000 - $145,000 can be flexible depending on experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr