Director of Quality - Aerospace Manufacturing

Full-Time | Executive Leadership | Advanced Aerospace Production

About the Role

A leading aerospace manufacturer is seeking an experienced Director of Quality to oversee all quality functions across complex, highly regulated aerospace production environments. This role is responsible for driving product integrity, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance while leading a high‑performing team of quality professionals who support critical aerospace components and systems.

The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of aerospace quality standards, robust experience managing multi‑stage manufacturing processes, and the ability to lead cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced, technically demanding environment.

Key Responsibilities

Aerospace Quality Leadership

• Develop and execute the organization's aerospace quality strategy across all manufacturing processes.
• Lead deployment of advanced aerospace quality tools, process quality management, and statistical process control practices.
• Establish a culture of precision, reliability, and continuous improvement aligned with aerospace safety and performance requirements.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee quality systems and inspection processes for aerospace materials, components, and assemblies.
• Lead teams of quality engineers, technicians, inspectors, and laboratory personnel.
• Implement and monitor procedures to validate new or modified aerospace products prior to production release.
• Ensure consistent compliance with aerospace customer specifications and mission‑critical performance standards.

Regulatory & Standards Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with aerospace industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.
• Manage internal audits, external audits, certification and accreditation activities, and ongoing audit readiness.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective action programs, and continuous improvement activities with aerospace-level rigor.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the senior quality representative for aerospace customer interactions, including technical reviews, audits, and ongoing performance discussions.
• Partner with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams to maintain strict conformance to aerospace quality expectations.

Cost, Risk & Performance Optimization

• Drive reduction in cost of poor quality through proactive risk mitigation, process improvements, and inspection optimization.
• Use data‑driven metrics to enhance manufacturing reliability and reduce defects across aerospace product lines.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Mentor and develop quality engineers, managers, and technical specialists.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned with aerospace manufacturing excellence.

Travel Requirements

• Frequent domestic and international travel (approximately 50-75%) may be required to support multiple aerospace facilities and customer locations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience within aerospace quality or advanced, highly regulated manufacturing.
• Strong command of aerospace quality standards, including SAE, ASTM, AMS, and related industry specifications.
• Familiarity with all AS and ISO procedures, including implementation, auditing, compliance, and system-level governance.
• Demonstrated success managing complex quality operations across multiple sites or global teams.
• Proven ability to lead major quality system upgrades and organizational change initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with APQP, NPI, and advanced aerospace quality tools.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Background in engineering, operations, planning, or other technical areas associated with aerospace production.