What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Director of Quality - Aerospace position at Arrowhead Talent Solutions?
Arrowhead Talent Solutions is assisting an aerospace manufacturer in Fullerton CA with filling a Senior Director of Quality opening. This role will have multi-site team oversight and will help drive quality performance.
The Sr. Director of Quality is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the company’s quality strategy across all aerospace manufacturing operations. This executive role ensures that products, processes, and systems meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction, while maintaining compliance with all regulatory and industry requirements. The Sr. Quality Director of Quality will, collaborate with cross-functional and senior leadership, maintain Quality Management Systems, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to support business objectives and growth. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Operations & Quality.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership:
- Develop and execute the company-wide quality vision, strategy, and objectives aligned with corporate goals.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Quality organization, including site Quality Managers and cross-functional teams, fostering professional growth and high performance.
- Communicate quality objectives, performance, and improvement plans to executive leadership, customers, and regulatory agencies
- Quality Systems & Compliance:
- Develop, implement and maintain an Aerospace Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001, AS9100, FAA, EASA and other relevant standards
- Ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, DoD, and other regulatory requirements.
- Manage internal and external audits, certifications, and customer quality requirements.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Customer Service) to integrate quality into all aerospace processes and new product introduction
- Continuous Improvement:
- Champion Risk Management, Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to drive operational excellence.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes for quality incidents, escapes, and non-conformances.
- Monitor and report key quality metrics (e.g., defect rates, DPPM, customer returns, audit findings) for quality performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
- Product & Process Quality:
- Oversee new product introduction (NPI) quality planning, including APQP, PPAP, FAI, and validation activities.
- Ensure robust process control, supplier quality management, and risk mitigation throughout the supply chain.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve complex quality issues.
- Establish and analyze quality metrics, trends, and root causes to drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) for aerospace products and systems
- Customer Focus:
- Serve as the primary contact for customer quality matters, complaints, and audits.
- Foster a culture of customer satisfaction and responsiveness throughout the organization.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, or related technical field (master’s preferred).
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in Aerospace Quality Manufacturing, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated expertise in AS9100, ISO 9001, and aerospace regulatory requirements.
- Proven track record in implementing and leading Risk Management, Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives (certification preferred).
- Experience with advanced quality tools (FMEA, SPC, MSA, PPAP, APQP, FAI).
- Strong knowledge of supplier quality management, risk assessment, and corrective/preventive action processes.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to influence at all levels of the organization and interface with customers and regulatory agencies.
Preferred Certifications
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
- Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt
- Lean Certification
- AS9100 Lead Auditor Certification
- PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is a plus