Director, Product and Supplier Quality
About the role
The Director of Product and Supplier Quality leads the execution of product quality and supplier quality activities across Otto Aerospace. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this role ensures quality requirements are effectively implemented across various stages of aircraft development, certification, and production.
Responsibilities
Lead execution of product quality and supplier quality activities across the organization.
Establish departmental objectives, priorities, staffing plans, and operational performance targets aligned with company goals.
Build, lead, and develop a scalable quality execution organization capable of supporting aircraft development, certification, and production.
Drive continuous improvement focused on defect prevention, process capability, and supplier performance.
Represent Product and Supplier Quality within the Integrated Operations leadership team.
Utilize enterprise quality data systems, dashboards, and performance metrics established by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office to manage operational performance.
Ensure personnel are trained and qualified in accordance with training programs and standards defined by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office.
Execute product quality activities including incoming inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, first article inspection, conformity, and nonconforming material control.
Integrate quality requirements into manufacturing planning, production execution, inspection processes, and aircraft assembly operations.
Monitor operational quality performance for product and supplier execution and drive corrective actions when performance objectives are not achieved, in alignment with enterprise performance frameworks.
Support flight-test vehicle assembly, certification activities, and production readiness initiatives.
Accountable for supplier quality performance within assigned programs and suppliers.
Execute supplier qualification, surveillance, and performance management activities in accordance with approved supplier quality processes and governance frameworks.
Partner with Supply Chain and Engineering to ensure supplier capability, product conformity, and risk mitigation.
Execute product and supplier quality activities in accordance with approved company procedures, regulatory requirements, and QMS standards.
Maintain dotted-line accountability to the Chief Safety and Quality Officer (CSQO) for compliance with quality system, regulatory, and governance requirements.
Support internal audits, external audits, FAA assessments, and certification activities as directed by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office.
Execute corrective actions and nonconformance resolution in accordance with the enterprise corrective action system.
Escalate compliance concerns, systemic risks, and significant quality issues through established governance channels.
Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Flight Test, Program Management, and Certification teams to support program execution.
Support organizational readiness for FAA production approval, AS9100 certification, and production scaling.
Lead and develop Product Quality and Supplier Quality organizations.
Initially supervise the Supplier Quality Manager and perform Product Quality Manager responsibilities until the role is established.
Build and scale the Product Quality organization, including future leadership and technical roles.
Establish talent development, succession planning, and organizational growth strategies.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, or related technical discipline required.
15+ years of progressive aerospace quality experience.
8+ years of leadership experience managing quality organizations.
Demonstrated experience leading both supplier quality and product quality functions.
Experience supporting aircraft development programs, certification programs, manufacturing operations, or production environments.
Experience working within FAA-regulated and AS9100-based quality systems.
Skills & Attributes
Strong leadership and organizational development capabilities.
Thorough understanding of aerospace quality systems, supplier quality management, inspection systems, conformity processes, and nonconformance management.
Working knowledge of FAA certification and production approval environments.
Strong understanding of AS9100, AS9102, APQP, PPAP, FAI, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
Ability to balance operational execution with compliance and governance requirements.
Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to operate effectively within a fast-paced startup environment while driving organizational maturity and accountability.
Benefits
Competitive salaries.
Subsidized medical, dental, and vision coverage.
401(k) opportunities.
Paid short term disability.
Voluntary long-term disability and additional term life.
15 paid days off.
13 paid company holidays.
Paid sick leave.
Company Information
Otto Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of its hiring process. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability.