Head of Quality Assurance

Operations Leadership Recruiting & Executive Search for Private Equity‑Owned Portfolio Companies

This Job is For You If:

• You’re a quality leader who thrives in a precision machining or fabrication environment, and you know how to build credibility on the floor, in front of customers, and with demanding auditors.
• You bring hands‑on, action‑oriented leadership and aren’t afraid to pick up a part, inspect a weld, or roll up your sleeves to solve complex quality issues.
• You’re passionate about getting quality right the first time, tightening up material and documentation controls, and building structure where none exists.
• You value autonomy and are ready to own your function, earn trust quickly, and drive measurable improvement in a fast‑paced, resource‑constrained environment.
• You’re energized by the challenge of leading change and building a high‑performing team in a company that’s growing

What You’ll Do:

• Own and lead the quality assurance function at a single‑site, 70K sq ft+ machining and fabrication facility
• Oversee a team that includes quality engineers, inspectors, and a compliance manager—with the autonomy to assess and upgrade the team as needed
• Implement structure around incoming inspection, outgoing deliverables, scrap analysis, and root cause / corrective action
• Serve as the key quality contact for defense prime customers, ensuring alignment to AS9100 and customer‑specific standards
• Collaborate closely with operations leadership to integrate quality at the source and reduce reliance on end‑of‑line inspection
• Evaluate current QMS utilization (limited ERP integration) and lead the evolution toward more robust systems and metrics
• Drive internal cultural change by leading from the floor and promoting ownership, responsiveness, and continuous improvement

Qualifications, Partial List:

• Strong background in precision machining or fabrication; defense/aerospace preferred but not required
• Solid working knowledge of GD&T, AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer‑facing quality deliverables
• Comfortable working in an environment where systems are evolving—ability to create structure and solve problems from the ground up
• Experience managing quality inspectors and engineers; ability to assess and coach/develop talent
• Effective communicator who can speak shop floor, boardroom, and customer—all in the same day
• Relocation support available for the right candidate

This company, located 25 miles South of Dayton, manufactures complex, mission‑critical metal components for top‑tier defense and aerospace customers. Backed by a growth‑oriented private equity sponsor, the company is experiencing a period of rapid scale growth and is investing in leadership, systems, and infrastructure. With a flat, entrepreneurial structure, a high‑performing workforce, and a strong operational runway, this is a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a business that matters.