Director of Quality

Attalon is a leading technology partner to the global aerospace and defense industry, specializing in the physics of light. With over 500 employees in the U.S., Attalon engineers critical optical, laser, and coating technologies that enable systems to see farther, target faster, and survive the harshest environments. From high-energy directed laser systems to satellite optics and hypersonic thermal protection, Attalon equips the warfighter with the advantage of precision.

Attalon is hiring a Director of Quality to oversee and optimize its quality operations across three business segments. Each business segment is supported by its own local quality team, responsible for managing day-to-day Quality Management System (QMS) functions. As the company's most senior quality leader, this person will wear two hats, leading both a local quality team at one of our sites and providing enterprise-wide guidance to the functional quality organization. This role is pivotal in providing strategic direction, implementing industry best practices, and ensuring alignment across all manufacturing and engineering activities. It is a highly visible position, offering significant exposure to the business leadership team.

The ideal candidate will embody a "player-coach" mindset, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution. Alongside leading local teams, this role involves directly managing tasks such as critical root-cause analyses, compliance mapping, and high-stakes customer quality reviews. The quality function supports a wide range of programs through Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), and a successful candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills to foster relationships with Program Managers across the organization, identifying opportunities to enhance customer outcomes through rigorous quality improvements.

Responsibilities

As the Director of Quality, your primary responsibilities will include:

• Quality Strategy : Formulate and execute comprehensive enterprise-wide quality strategies that drive product excellence across all business units and programs.
• QMS Alignment : Define and implement corporate standards and processes that align Attalon's enterprise quality management and with local quality management systems with aerospace industry best practices.
• Regulatory & Standards Compliance : Ensure full compliance with aerospace regulations and maintain strict adherence to AS9100 across all sites.
• Supplier Quality Governance : Partner with supply chain teams to embed rigorous supplier quality metrics into vendor selection, flow down requirements, and oversee critical supplier audits.
• CAPA & Continuous Improvement : Direct the corporate Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) program, utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies to minimize process variations and scrap rates.
• IPT Collaboration : Collaborate closely with Integrated Product Teams to ensure quality-by-design principles are met during product development and qualification phases.
• Performance Metrics : Develop, implement, and monitor key quality metrics (e.g., Cost of Poor Quality, First Pass Yield, Escapes) to measure and improve organizational performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, physics, business, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience working in a quality assurance or quality engineering role.
• 5+ years working for an aerospace & defense focused business.
• 10+ years of demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing AS9100 compliance, First Article Inspections (AS9102), and Material Review Board (MRB) processes.
• Experience utilizing advanced quality tools such as APQP, PPAP, FMEA, and Root Cause Analysis (8D/5-Whys).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering, business, or a related technical field.
• 15+ years of experience working in a quality assurance or quality engineering role.
• 10+ years working for an aerospace & defense focused business.
• 10+ years of demonstrated leadership skills in a multi-site business.
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Attalon, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Export Control Compliance

This role involves access to technology, materials, software, or hardware subject to U.S. export control laws. Therefore, to be considered, candidates must be classified as a "U.S. Person" under applicable regulations or be eligible for authorization under a U.S. government export license.