Vice President, Quality Control

Location: Phoenix / Goodyear, AZ (On-Site)
Department: Quality & Manufacturing
Reports To: CEO
Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt

GTI Fabrication is a leader in modular steel infrastructure, steel fabrication, and mission-critical manufacturing for the defense, energy, and heavy industrial markets. From large welded frames and enclosures to portable infrastructure modules, we are committed to manufacturing excellence, safety, traceability, and growth. We’re seeking a senior executive to build and lead the Quality Control function as we scale.

The VP of Quality Control will lead the development and execution of a world-class quality control (QC) system across fabrication, welding, finishing, assembly, and field deployment. This role is accountable for establishing the culture, systems, processes, metrics, and teams that ensure products meet or exceed customer, regulatory, and internal quality expectations—especially in a high-volume steel/manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate brings deep metal fabrication experience (weldments, bolted connections, steel frames), strong systems thinking, proven leadership at the senior level, and the ability to influence across design, operations, supply chain, and customers.

• Define and drive the quality control strategy aligned with corporate objectives: manufacturing scale-up, cost reduction, zero defects, delivery reliability.

• Lead the Quality Control organization (inspectors, supervisors, weld procedure engineers, fabrication QA/QC) across multiple plants/facilities.

• Establish and maintain rigorous fabrication quality standards: welding (AWS, AISC, ISO 3834), weld procedure qualification, weld inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT), surface treatment/coatings, bolted and structural connections.

• Oversee incoming material inspection, in-process quality checks, final inspection, paint/coating verification, packing/shipping quality, and field installation quality metrics.

• Implement and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS): ISO 9001, and as applicable ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and relevant steel/fabrication standards.

• Drive root-cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions (CAPA), non-conformance material (MRB) process, supplier quality assurance, and continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma).

• Set and monitor key quality metrics: first pass yield (FPY), scrap rate, rework rate, on-time delivery with quality, cost of poor quality (COPQ), customer defect rate, internal audit findings, supplier defect rate.

• Partner with Fabrication, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Design to ensure design for manufacturing and quality: early engagement, weldability, assembly processes, material selection.

• Lead quality audit programs: internal audits, external audits, customer audits, regulatory/industry audits (DOT, AISC, AWS, NADCAP as applicable).

• Serve as senior executive interface for quality with customers, regulators and top-tier suppliers. Provide quality performance reports to the executive leadership team and Board as needed.

• Build and develop the quality organization: recruit, train, coach, develop leadership in QC. Drive culture of accountability, craftsmanship, continuous learning.

• Oversee budget for the quality control organization, capital expenditures for inspection/test equipment, metrology, and NDT assets.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Metallurgy, Manufacturing, or related technical discipline; Master’s preferred.

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in quality, manufacturing or fabrication environments; with at least 5 years at a senior leadership/executive level (director/VP) in a heavy manufacturing or steel fabrication organization.

• Demonstrated experience in steel fabrication/manufacturing: weldments, structural steel, bolting, coatings, finishing, large assemblies, modules.

• Deep familiarity with welding standards (AWS, AISC, ISO 3834), fabrication standards, NDT methods (UT, MT, PT), and QA/QC systems in fabrication environments.

• Proven success implementing and maintaining ISO 9001 (and/or ISO 14001/45001) QMS in a multi-site manufacturing organization.

• Strong analytical and data-driven mindset: metrics, dashboards, root cause, trending, continuous improvement.

• Excellent leadership and organizational capability, with experience building high-performance QC teams, influencing at C-Suite level, and working cross-functionally.

• Exceptional communication, customer-facing skills, and ability to engage suppliers, customers, regulators and senior leadership.

• Experience in modular fabrication, enclosure systems, defense or energy manufacturing.

• Certifications such as Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Black/Green Belt.

• Experience with ERP/MES integration of quality data, digital QMS, manufacturing analytics platforms.

• Field quality experience or mobile/factory audit background across multiple sites.