Senior Director, Manufacturing Quality Engineering

Senior Director Of Manufacturing Quality Engineering

The Senior Director of Manufacturing Quality Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the organization's quality strategy across all manufacturing operations. This leader ensures that products meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and compliance while driving a culture of continuous improvement. The role oversees quality systems, supplier quality, and manufacturing engineering teams, partnering closely with operations, design, regulatory, and executive leadership to align quality performance with business objectives and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Quality Strategy & Leadership

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive manufacturing quality strategy aligned with corporate goals.
  • Establish and maintain a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all sites.
  • Serve as the executive point of contact for quality-related matters, including escalations and risk management.

• Manufacturing Quality Engineering

  • Drive standardization and optimization of quality engineering processes across manufacturing sites.
  • Implement robust process controls, validation protocols, and inspection systems.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) to address quality issues.
  • Mitigate supply chain risks related to quality and reliability.
  • Collaborate with procurement and supply chain to ensure supplier compliance and continuous improvement.

• Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

  • Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and other quality improvement methodologies.
  • Drive defect reduction, cost of poor quality (COPQ) improvements, and enhanced product reliability.
  • Establish and monitor KPIs, dashboards, and reporting systems to track quality performance.
  • Deep experience in IQC/OQC – ensuring the components entering manufacturing are to specification.

• Customer Quality & Field Performance

  • Ensure effective management of customer complaints, returns, and warranty issues.
  • Analyze field performance data to identify trends and drive product and process improvements.
  • Represent the organization in customer quality reviews and audits.

• Team Leadership & Development

  • Build, lead, and develop high-performing quality engineering and quality assurance teams.
  • Mentor leaders and create succession plans to ensure organizational continuity.
  • Promote a collaborative, results-driven culture focused on excellence and accountability.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner with Manufacturing, engineering, and design to ensure design for quality and manufacturability.
  • Support new product introductions (NPI) with strong quality planning and risk assessment (e.g., FMEA, control plans).
  • Advise executive leadership on quality risks, opportunities, and strategic initiatives.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Quality, or a related technical field; master's degree or MBA preferred.

  • 12–15+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing quality, with at least 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
  • Experience leading quality functions across multiple sites or global operations.

• Technical Expertise

  • Strong knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (Six Sigma, Lean, SPC, FMEA, MSA, DOE).
  • Experience with supplier quality, auditing, and process validation.
  • Certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or Six Sigma Black Belt/Master Black Belt.

• Leadership & Business Acumen

  • Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams and influence at the executive level.
  • Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and execution skills.
  • Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and driving cost improvements.
  • Demonstrated success in leading digital quality initiatives and data-driven decision-making.

• Skills & Competencies

  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
  • High attention to detail with a commitment to excellence.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, complex, and regulated environment.

Work Environment & Travel

• Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Travel required (~25%) depending on product lifecycle and manufacturing location.