Senior Director of Quality - Direct Hire

Summary

We are seeking a results-driven Senior Director of Quality to lead our quality organization within a high-precision aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. This role is critical in ensuring product and process compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and all relevant U.S. government contract requirements. The Senior Director of Quality will be responsible for strategic leadership, continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and quality systems management across all programs and sites.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, develop, and manage the Quality Assurance organization across multiple locations.
• Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable DoD and government contract standards.
• Serve as the primary quality liaison with customers, suppliers, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure robust internal audit programs, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action systems are in place.
• Oversee quality planning for new programs, including design and production readiness reviews, FAI, and PPAP as applicable.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using tools such as Six Sigma, Lean, SPC, and FMEA.
• Manage risk assessments, quality metrics, and performance reporting to senior leadership.
• Ensure compliance with DFARS, ITAR, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead and support quality certification and surveillance audits.
• Guide team development, training, and mentoring of quality staff.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive quality leadership in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Extensive experience with AS9100D, ISO 9001, military specifications, and DoD contract environments.
• Proven success managing multi-site quality operations in a regulated manufacturing setting.
• Direct interface experience with DCMA, FAA, DoD, and certification bodies.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Experience managing NADCAP processes or special processes (e.g., welding, heat treat, NDT).
• Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and digital QMS platforms.

Certifications Required:

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) (required)
• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or equivalent (preferred)
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Lean Certification (preferred)

Additional Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship required due to government contract work.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel up to 25% as needed.