Quality Manager

Company Overview

Firecrest Aerospace is a U.S. aerospace propulsion company headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, with manufacturing operations being established in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. As a subsidiary of CSE USA, Inc., a member of CSG Group, Firecrest develops and manufactures advanced micro turbojet and turbofan engines for defense, aerospace, and other high-performance applications, supporting U.S. government, allied, and commercial customers.

The company is investing approximately $15 million to establish its initial U.S. manufacturing facility in Stevens Point, where it expects to create approximately 125 high-skilled manufacturing, engineering, and technical positions. As Firecrest expands from engine assembly, integration, and testing into full-scale manufacturing, engineering, and advanced product development, it is helping strengthen the U.S. aerospace and defense industrial base while advancing next-generation propulsion technologies.

At Firecrest Aerospace, you will have the opportunity to work alongside a growing team committed to engineering excellence, innovation, and mission success. Whether your expertise is in manufacturing, engineering, quality, operations, or business functions, you will play a direct role in building advanced propulsion systems that support critical national security and aerospace missions.

Position Summary

The Quality Manager will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and scaling the Quality Management System (QMS) for a small turbine engine assembly and test facility. This role begins as an individual contributor working directly with the VP of Propulsion Operations (located remotely) during initial site startup.

In Phase 1, the Quality Manager will work in tight coordination with the Operations Manager and Engineering Manager to build the foundational quality framework. As the organization transitions into production (Phases 2 and 3), the role evolves into a leadership position reporting to the on-site Plant Manager, with responsibility for a growing quality organization.

This role is central to ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and successful production scale from New Product Introduction (NPI) through full-rate production, with a deliberate focus on improving First Pass Yield (FPY) prior to optimizing takt time.

Organizational Scaling & Quality Ownership

Phase 1: Site Startup & NPI (Individual Contributor reporting to VP of Propulsion Operations)

Establish the framework for an AS9100-compliant Quality Management System (QMS)

• Co-develop foundational processes with Operations and Engineering to ensure alignment between design intent, manufacturability, and quality controls
• Define and implement early-stage quality processes, including:
• Segregation and control of nonconforming material
• Material Review Board (MRB) structure and workflows
• Configuration management framework aligned with EIA-649-C
• Counterfeit parts prevention program
• Supplier quality requirements and flow-down clauses
• Supplier audits for process capability and Approved Supplier List (ASL)
• Contract review process for customer requirements
• Establish incoming inspection strategy, including AQL methodologies
• Define First Article Inspection (FAI) requirements aligned with AS9102 (initially selective, expanding in Phase 2)
• Develop calibration system framework and metrology strategy
• Implement initial data collection systems to support:
• Defect tracking
• Yield measurement
• Early FMEA inputs
• Begin facilitating Design FMEAs (DFMEA) with Engineering and Process FMEAs (PFMEA) with Operations
• Establish structured problem-solving expectations (formal 8D Problem Solving when warranted; otherwise streamlined approaches)

Phase 2: NPI → Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) (Functional Manager reporting to Plant Manager)

Improve First Pass Yield (FPY)

• Hire and lead:
• Supplier Quality Engineer
• Manufacturing Quality Engineer
• Receiving Inspector
• In-Process & Final Quality Assurance (FQA) Inspector
• Metrology Specialist
• Expand and operationalize QMS processes established in Phase 1
• Drive FPY improvement initiatives through:
• PFMEA maturation and linkage to control plans
• Data-driven defect reduction and trend analysis
• Robust RCCA processes using 8D Problem Solving where appropriate
• Fully implement:
• Incoming inspection with defined AQL sampling plans
• First Article Inspection (FAI) for supplier and internal processes per AS9102
• MRB governance and nonconformance management workflows
• Establish and execute supplier quality management program:
• Supplier audits
• Performance monitoring and corrective actions
• Enforcement of quality flow-down requirements
• Own configuration management system in accordance with EIA-649-C
• Deploy calibration system and ensure measurement system integrity
• Strengthen counterfeit parts prevention and traceability systems
• Manage customer quality interface, including containment and response to escapes
• Build analytics capability to connect:
• FMEAs ↔ Control Plans ↔ Inspection Results ↔ Defect Data

Phase 3: LRIP → Full-Rate Production (FRP) (Functional Manager reporting to Plant Manager)

Enable takt time improvement (After FPY Stabilization)

• Ensure quality systems enable increased throughput without compromising compliance
• Shift focus from defect reduction to process capability, flow, and efficiency
• Optimize inspection strategies (risk-based reduction where appropriate)
• Drive advanced statistical methods and process control (SPC, Cp/Cpk)
• Ensure FMEAs and control plans are continuously updated based on production data
• Support line balancing and takt time improvements by:
• Reducing inspection bottlenecks
• Improving measurement system turnaround
• Lead response to customer escapes and systemic issues with rapid containment and RCCA
• Continue supplier quality development aligned with production scaling
• Prepare organization for eventual AS9100 certification audit

Key Responsibilities (Across All Phases)

• Own and evolve the Quality Management System
• Ensure compliance with aerospace, customer, and regulatory requirements
• Lead FMEA development and maintenance (design and process)
• Drive structured problem solving and RCCA culture
• Oversee inspection, metrology, and calibration systems
• Manage nonconformance, MRB, and corrective action processes
• Ensure configuration control and traceability
• Develop and lead the quality organization
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7 years of experience in aerospace or high-reliability manufacturing quality
• Experience implementing or operating within AS9100 or similar QMS
• Strong knowledge of FMEA, control plans, RCCA, and inspection systems
• Demonstrated experience transitioning products from NPI to production with a background in startup manufacturing
• Demonstrated ability to build processes and teams from the ground up
• Familiarity with AS9102 and EIA-649-C
• Six Sigma certification (Black Belt preferred)

Key Competencies

• Builder mindset with strong systems thinking
• Deep understanding of scaling quality in parallel with production (FPY → takt time)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Cross-functional leadership and influence
• High accountability and attention to detail

Work Environment

• On-site in a turbine engine assembly and test facility
• Significant interaction with production floor and test operations
• Exposure to regulated aerospace manufacturing environments

Why This Role Matters

This role defines the quality backbone of the operation — ensuring that as production scales from first builds to full-rate output, product integrity, compliance, and customer trust scale with it.  The Quality Manager is a key driver of yield improvement, operational stability, and long-term production success.

What We Offer

·        Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives.

·        Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

·        401(k) retirement plan with company contribution.

·        Paid time off including vacation, personal days, and company holidays.

·        Professional development and training opportunities.

·        Entrepreneurial, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment