Senior Manager Quality & Mission Assurance

We are looking for a seasoned quality leader to build and run our Quality Assurance function in a defense and aerospace environment. As Senior Manager of Quality Assurance & Mission Assurance, you will own the day-to-day execution of our Quality Management System, lead a team of quality professionals, and serve as the primary interface with program management, engineering, manufacturing, and DCMA representatives.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has implemented quality systems, driven compliance programs, and managed teams in high-stakes hardware environments. You will be expected to establish the standards, processes, and culture that ensure we consistently deliver quality products to our customers - and that our organization is always audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Team Leadership

* Lead and develop a team of quality engineers and inspectors, setting clear expectations and driving accountability

* Provide hands-on coaching, training, and mentorship on quality standards, tools, and procedures

* Manage workload allocation across the team to support program schedules and priorities

* Report program quality status to senior leadership and program management on a regular cadence

Mission Assurance & Program Quality

* Assure quality, risk management, safety, reliability, and maintainability across programs, subcontractors, and suppliers in accordance with contractual requirements

* Assess program performance and risks; determine and deploy resources to ensure mission assurance objectives are met

* Maintain comprehensive quality metrics and dashboards, incorporating customer and employee feedback to assess performance and drive decisions

* Collaborate with program managers, engineering leads, and DCMA representatives on scheduling, operational decisions, and contractual clarifications

Product & Integration Quality Engineering

* Partner with manufacturing engineering, production, and design engineers to support the quality of production processes for components such as sensors, PCBAs, cables, wiring harnesses, actuators, machined parts, and structures

* Work cross-functionally to define and execute product build and inspection requirements that meet customer quality standards

* Lead the Non-Conformance Review (NCR) process: contain defects, drive corrective actions, and manage KPIs.

* Lead Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations, manage Material Review Board (MRB) activities, and own containment strategies for prototype and production builds

* Support incoming inspection processes, integration quality documentation, planning, and effectiveness metrics

QMS, Compliance & Audit Readiness

* Ensure all QMS and AS9100 practices are implemented, maintained, and followed across the organization

* Develop the organization to a continuous state of audit readiness for internal, customer, and third-party audits

* Oversee quality inspections of incoming materials, in-process components, and finished products

* Maintain and update quality documentation including inspection plans, reports, control charts, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)

* Drive the development and maintenance of End Item Data Packages (EIDPs)

* Ensure compliance with all applicable quality certifications and regulatory standards

Continuous Improvement

* Support the implementation and execution of Continuous Improvement programs across manufacturing and engineering

* Identify recurring quality issues and champion cross-functional resolution to root cause and corrective actions

* Support the development of inspection systems and quality planning in partnership with development engineers

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

* 10+ years of quality assurance/engineering experience in defense, aerospace, or a similarly regulated hardware environment

* 3+ years managing or leading a quality team, with direct supervisory responsibility

* Hands-on experience implementing and maintaining AS9100-compliant QMS

* Demonstrated experience with NCR/MRB processes and RCCA methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, or equivalent)

* Familiarity with DCMA oversight processes and experience interfacing with DCMA representatives

* Strong working knowledge of hardware quality disciplines: incoming inspection, in-process inspection, integration quality, and acceptance testing

* Experience developing and maintaining quality documentation, EIDPs, and SOPs

* Proven ability to work cross-functionally and communicate clearly with engineering, manufacturing, and program leadership

Preferred

Skills and Experience:

* Experience supporting defense program types (CPFF, FFP, T&M) and their associated quality obligations

* Background in developing quality systems for avionics, sensors, and aerospace hardware or similar

* Familiarity with MIL-SPEC, AS9100, or CMMI quality frameworks

* Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Manager (CQM), or Six Sigma Black Belt

Senior Manager Quality & Mission Assurance Salar: $120,000 - $165,000 USD

ITAR Requirements:

This position may include…