Director of Quality

About the role

The Director of Quality at AET is responsible for shaping and advancing the Quality Management System across the organization. Reporting to the COO, this role requires a leader who can connect strategy with practical execution in a complex, technical business.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead AET’s enterprise quality strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Act as the senior authority on quality across AET, influencing operational standards and client outcomes.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on QMS performance, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Drive cross-functional alignment and consistency in quality execution across regions and service lines.
• Champion innovation in quality systems, reporting, and tools to enhance efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Oversee the design, maintenance, and effectiveness of the enterprise QMS, including policies, procedures, work instructions and forms.
• Promote a company-wide culture of quality, reinforcing accountability and performance improvement at all levels.
• Serve as the executive liaison for external audits, accreditation bodies, and client quality requirements.
• Lead internal audit programs to evaluate adequacy, implementation, and effectiveness of the QMS.
• Oversee nonconforming work processes, including escalation, evaluation, and resolution of quality issues.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented, monitored, and verified for effectiveness using structured methodologies.
• Partner with operations, engineering, laboratory and field teams to integrate quality standards into all phases of project delivery.
• Oversee investigation and resolution of internal and external quality-related complaints, ensuring timely and documented responses.
• Define and lead enterprise quality training strategy, ensuring all employees receive required QMS training and updates.
• Partner with HR and Operations to ensure role-based competency requirements are defined, assessed, and maintained.
• Analyze trends in quality performance, customer feedback, and risk to drive data-informed improvements.
• Provide leadership and direction to quality teams, including workforce planning, development, and succession strategies.
• Advise executive leadership on quality risks, opportunities, and strategic initiatives.
• Supervise enterprise quality personnel and the Quality Committee, including quality representatives across practices and services lines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in quality assurance/quality control within engineering, construction materials testing, or infrastructure services.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise QA/QC or QMS programs.
• Strong knowledge of ISO, AASHTO, and relevant regulatory standards.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in quality assurance/quality control within engineering, construction materials testing, or infrastructure services.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise QA/QC or QMS programs.
• Strong knowledge of ISO, AASHTO, and relevant regulatory standards.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strategic leadership and executive communication.
• Quality systems and regulatory expertise.
• Continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making.
• Cross-functional collaboration and change management.
• Client-focused problem solving.

Pay

Base compensation is expected to be in the range of $125,000 - $160,000 annually based on skill set and experience. AET offers a comprehensive salary and benefits package, including year-end incentive bonus, health benefits, insurance, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), long term savings, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Work Environment

This job primarily operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. This position will occasionally be required to operate in a field environment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands or fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

AAP/EEO Statement

It is the policy of AET to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.