Quality Assurance Manager - Aerospace Manufacturing

Position Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements. This position provides leadership for all quality functions supporting the manufacture of aerospace aluminum sand castings, including Quality Engineering, Inspection, NDT, Calibration, and Special Processes.

The Quality Manager partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production teams to drive world-class quality performance, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. This position serves as the primary quality representative for customer, FAA, AS9100, and Nadcap requirements and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable aerospace standards and customer specifications.

Salary: $130K - $180K

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the AS9100 Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with customer, FAA, Nadcap, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead and develop Quality Engineers, Inspectors, Technicians, and Supervisors.
• Oversee quality compliance for special processes including Heat Treat, Welding, Mechanical Testing, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).
• Ensure compliance with Nadcap accreditation requirements and customer approvals for special processes.
• Lead customer, internal, certification, and third-party audits.
• Manage customer complaints, escapes, corrective actions, and root cause investigations.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including:
  • Scrap
  • Rework
  • Customer Returns (RMA)
  • Cost of Poor Quality
  • Escapes
  • Audit Findings
  • Corrective Action Closure
• Lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) utilizing methodologies such as:
  • 8D
  • 5 Why
  • Fishbone Analysis
  • FMEA
  • Statistical Analysis
• Review and approve quality procedures, inspection plans, work instructions, and quality documentation.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to improve casting yield, reduce scrap, eliminate defects, and improve process capability.
• Support qualification and validation of new products, tooling, processes, and manufacturing methods.
• Manage supplier quality performance and supplier corrective action activities.
• Ensure calibration and control of all inspection, measurement, and test equipment.
• Lead First Article Inspection (FAI) activities in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Analyze quality data and trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and cost reduction.
• Provide training and development for quality personnel and cross-functional teams.
• Support contract review and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Maintain compliance with all company safety and environmental policies.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Metallurgy, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of quality experience in aerospace manufacturing, foundry operations, aluminum sand castings, precision machining, or related industries.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing Quality Engineers, Inspectors, Technicians, and Supervisors.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining and improving AS9100-certified Quality Management Systems.
• Experience leading customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Experience supporting or managing Nadcap-accredited special processes.
• Proven experience leading corrective action, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong customer-facing experience supporting aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough understanding of AS9100, AS9102, FAA requirements, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Working knowledge of Nadcap requirements for Heat Treat, Welding, Mechanical Testing, and NDT.
• Strong understanding of aluminum sand casting processes, casting defects, metallurgical evaluations, and process controls.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
• Knowledge of SPC, MSA, FMEA, Control Plans, and Process Capability Studies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective leadership and team development capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, auditors, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP/MRP systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Certifications

• ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CMQ/OE)
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• AS9100 Lead Auditor Certification

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace aluminum sand casting experience.
• Experience managing Nadcap audits and customer special process approvals.
• Experience supporting aerospace customers such as Lockheed Martin, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, Safran,…