Head of Quality
Position Summary
The Head of Quality is a senior organizational leader responsible for building and sustaining a high-performance quality function across design, manufacturing, and field operations. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role owns the quality management system (QMS), regulatory certification posture, and the culture of quality across all programs. This role leads a team of quality engineers, inspectors, and auditors and serves as the primary quality liaison with customers, regulatory authorities, and certification bodies.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Own and evolve the company-wide QMS in compliance with AS9100 Rev D and applicable FAA/EASA regulations
Define quality strategy aligned to company growth, program milestones, and customer requirements
Lead the quality organization through hiring, development, and performance management
Serve as the management representative for all third-party and regulatory audits (DCMA, customer, NADCAP)
Drive a metrics-driven culture: OTD, escape rate, DPPM, cost of poor quality (COPQ)
Executive escalation point for all critical NCRs, field escapes, and MRB dispositions
Champion design for quality, DFMEAs, and systems engineering integration
Partner with the COO and executive team on risk management and program reviews
Establish and enforce supplier quality standards in coordination with supply chain
Support business development by representing quality in proposal reviews and customer audits
Qualifications
B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering; M.S. or MBA preferred
12+ years of quality engineering and leadership experience in aerospace or defense
Demonstrated experience leading quality organizations of 15+ people
Deep expertise in AS9100, NADCAP, FAR/DFAR, and DAL/DO-178 (as applicable)
Experience as a management representative for AS9100 or comparable certification
CQE or CQM/OE certification (ASQ) strongly preferred
Familiarity with ITAR/EAR compliance obligations at the enterprise level
Executive-level communication skills; experience presenting to C-suite and customers
Strong business judgment and ability to balance risk with commercial objectives
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proven ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Collaborative leadership style and influencing skills
Strong project management discipline, highly organized, and takes ownership
Uses sound judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges
Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results
Strong agility and adaptability to integrate quickly into a small team