Director, Quality & Compliance

Since 1969, Advanced Programs Inc. (API) has been developing secure, mission-critical solutions that serve the United States, NATO, and allied partners. As a small, agile company supporting national security initiatives, we offer a tight-knit environment where each employee plays a meaningful role in real-world impact. 

Join a team that moves quickly to respond to evolving defense and intelligence challenges—often working directly with government stakeholders to translate urgent needs into engineered solutions. You'll have the chance to make a difference, but you'll also be expected to bring initiative, flexibility, and technical curiosity every day.

Director of Quality & Compliance

Position Summary

The Director of Quality & Compliance leads the company’s quality management and regulatory compliance programs across multiple manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure that the design, manufacture, and delivery of TEMPEST, ruggedized, and commercial systems meet internal standards, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.

The Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of quality assurance, quality control, compliance, and continuous improvement activities. The role ensures ongoing ISO certification, and works closely with engineering, manufacturing, and program teams to drive product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

The Director also ensures the company’s quality and compliance programs meet the expectations of defense, intelligence community, and international customers.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of the company’s Quality Management System (QMS) across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Ensure products meet defined quality standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish quality metrics, analyze performance trends, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Develop statistical analysis and reliability metrics to evaluate product performance and manufacturing processes.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

ISO Certification & Quality Systems

• Serve as the company’s ISO Management Representative and maintain ISO certification across all facilities.
• Lead internal audit programs and support external certification audits.
• Conduct annual management reviews of the Quality Management System and present results to senior leadership.
• Develop, document, and maintain quality procedures, standards, and inspection methodologies.

Product & Manufacturing Quality

• Develop and implement inspection criteria, quality verification procedures, and testing protocols.
• Oversee inspection activities to ensure consistency, technical rigor, and efficiency.
• Support manufacturing and engineering teams to ensure product configurations and Bills of Material (BOM) align with company standards.
• Interface with TEMPEST laboratory personnel to coordinate quality test audits and manufacturing verification processes.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Serve as the primary quality liaison with customers and suppliers regarding quality concerns, corrective actions, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Investigate customer complaints and non-conformance issues, ensuring timely root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support customer engagements related to quality programs and compliance requirements.

Regulatory Compliance

• Develop and maintain the company’s compliance programs related to:
  • International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
  • Other applicable regulatory requirements
• Ensure processes are in place to maintain compliance across engineering, manufacturing, and business operations.

Operational Integration

• Review customer purchase orders, internal sales orders, and engineering change requests to ensure accuracy and alignment with product and compliance requirements.
• Participate in internal ISO audit activities across company facilities.
• Support ERP-related quality processes and provide internal training as needed.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a team of quality engineers, inspectors, and compliance professionals across multiple facilities.
• Establish clear performance expectations and promote professional development within the quality organization.
• Partner with senior leadership to align quality initiatives with company strategic objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position leads the Quality & Compliance organization and directly supervises quality engineers, inspectors, and compliance personnel.

Responsibilities include:

• Recruiting, hiring, and developing team members
• Establishing performance goals and evaluating performance
• Assigning and prioritizing work
• Supporting professional development and training
• Addressing performance issues and resolving operational challenges

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in quality leadership within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in secure hardware systems, ruggedized electronics, TEMPEST, EMI-sensitive equipment, or similar high-reliability products strongly preferred.
• Experience working with government customers and regulatory frameworks common to defense or national security programs.

Technical Experience

• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing Quality Management Systems (ISO-based).
• Experience with statistical quality methods and reliability analysis.
• Experience with hardware product configuration and manufacturing processes.
• Electro-mechanical technical capability, including familiarity with electrical circuits, mechanical systems, and automated equipment used to design, test, troubleshoot, and repair complex hardware systems.
• Familiarity with ERP systems used in engineering and manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing import/export compliance programs including ITAR.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office tools including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to analyze quality data and translate insights into operational improvements.

Core Competencies

• Quality leadership and continuous improvement
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Root cause analysis and corrective action management
• Customer engagement and supplier quality management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Coaching, mentoring, and team development
• Strong written and verbal communication

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel between company facilities and customer locations as needed.
• Must be US citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a detail-driven environment.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements of this role are consistent with typical office and light manufacturing environments. Employees may occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and may be required to stand, walk, or move between office and production areas.