Quality Engineering Manager

The Senior Quality Manager for Repair & Overhaul (R&O) is responsible for leading all aspects of quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement for a high-volume aerospace repair station operation. This leader ensures compliance with FAA Part 145 requirements, AS9100 quality management standards, customer requirements, and internal quality procedures while driving operational excellence, product reliability, customer satisfaction, and business performance.

The role partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Customer Support, and Regulatory Affairs to maintain a robust quality system, reduce escapes and defects, improve turnaround time (TAT), and foster a culture of quality accountability throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all R&O quality functions.

• Develop and execute the site's quality strategy aligned with business objectives.

• Lead and mentor quality managers, supervisors, engineers, auditors, and inspectors.

• Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Regulatory & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with FAA Part 145 Repair Station requirements.

• Maintain compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, EASA, customer-specific requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.

• Serve as primary site quality representative during regulatory and customer audits.

• Oversee corrective actions resulting from audits, findings, and nonconformances.

Quality Systems & Process Excellence

• Maintain effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS).

• Drive CAPA, root cause analysis, risk management, and preventive action processes.

• Monitor quality metrics and lead improvement plans.

• Ensure robust document control, configuration management, and process compliance.

Operational Quality Support

• Partner with Operations leadership to improve repair quality, productivity, and turnaround performance.

• Lead containment and resolution efforts for quality escapes and customer issues.

• Support introduction of new repair capabilities, technologies, and processes.

• Establish robust inspection and verification processes throughout the repair cycle.

Customer Quality

• Act as senior interface for customer quality concerns and escalation management.

• Lead investigations and corrective actions related to field returns and customer complaints.

• Drive customer-focused quality improvements that improve satisfaction and delivery performance.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and Quality Operating System initiatives.

• Utilize statistical methods and data analytics to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

• Eliminate systemic causes of defects, rework, scrap, and delays.

• Benchmark best practices and implement sustainable process improvements.

Talent Development

• Build organizational capability through coaching, succession planning, and employee development.

• Develop technical expertise across inspection, auditing, engineering, and quality functions.

• Drive accountability through performance management and talent assessments.

Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or related discipline.

• 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience in aerospace, MRO, manufacturing, or repair environments.

• 5+ years leading managers and professional quality teams.

• Experience with FAA Part 145 and aerospace regulatory requirements.

• Experience with AS9100 quality systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.

• FAA Repair Station experience.

• AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.

• Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement certification.

• Knowledge of NADCAP and EASA requirements.

• Experience supporting military and commercial aerospace products.

• Experience leading quality transformation initiatives across complex operations.

Critical Competencies

• Strategic Leadership

• Regulatory Compliance Expertise

• Root Cause & Corrective Action Leadership

• Customer Focus

• Data-Driven Decision Making

• Executive Communication

• Change Management

• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Talent Development

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Customer PPM

• Internal Defect Rate

• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)

• Audit Findings & Closure Rate

• FAA/EASA Regulatory Compliance

• CAPA Effectiveness

• First Pass Yield

• Escapes to Customer

• Turnaround Time Quality Impact

• Employee Engagement and Development Metrics

Tempe Site-Specific Considerations

The role supports a high-volume aerospace Repair & Overhaul operation that operates within an FAA-certified repair environment and serves a diverse customer base across commercial, military, space, and industrial aerospace markets. The position is expected to drive quality excellence while supporting aggressive delivery,…