Quality Manager

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you! Job Description Lead Quality. Strengthen the System. Deliver the Mission. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) is seeking a Quality Manager for our Simsbury, CT site. This leader will oversee all Quality Engineering teams across Energetics and Electronics, with site-level responsibility for quality performance, quality systems, customer compliance, and team development within a complex aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. We are looking for a hands-on quality leader who can connect site strategy with shop-floor execution, strengthen quality practices across diverse manufacturing processes, and develop teams with distinct technical expertise. This role requires strong knowledge of AS9100, customer requirements, manufacturing quality, and structured problem solving, along with the leadership discipline to build a stronger quality culture as the business scales. Scope of Responsibility The Quality Manager will provide unified leadership for the Energetics and Electronics Quality Engineering teams, with responsibility for manufacturing quality, customer quality, corrective action, compliance, and team development, along with oversight of the site quality management system. This leader will establish shared priorities, performance measures, and accountability across both groups while ensuring that quality practices reflect their respective technical requirements and manufacturing risks. Working closely with Operations and cross-functional partners, the manager will embed quality into production readiness, daily execution, customer commitments, and long-term site planning. Key Responsibilities Site Quality Leadership Lead all Quality Engineering teams supporting Energetics and Electronics, with ownership for site quality performance, compliance, and executionEstablish clear priorities, accountability, and a consistent operating rhythm across both groupsAlign team capacity, technical capability, and resources with program needs, production demand, and quality risksBalance hands-on issue resolution with site priorities and long-term quality system improvementPartner with Operations leadership to advance Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost objectives Quality Systems & Compliance Maintain and strengthen the site quality management system in alignment with AS9100, customer requirements, and applicable aerospace and defense standardsEnsure quality processes address the distinct requirements of Energetics and Electronics products and manufacturing operationsStandardize practices where appropriate and share lessons learned across teams to prevent recurring issuesEnsure disciplined adherence to internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and customer expectationsLead audit readiness, support customer and external reviews, and ensure timely closure of findingsIdentify systemic risks and drive improvements in process control, discipline, and predictability People Leadership & Team Development Build and sustain a high-performing team through effective hiring, development, performance management, and employee engagement.Build a cohesive site quality organization while developing the specialized expertise needed within each groupStrengthen technical capability, succession depth, and employee engagementEncourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and consistent problem-solving practices across teamsCreate a culture of ownership, urgency, transparency, and continuous learningDevelop quality leaders and individual contributors who can support increasing business complexity Manufacturing Quality & Problem Solving Lead containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and prevention across Energetics and Electronics manufacturingEnsure quality engineering support reflects each group’s product characteristics, process risks, and inspection and test requirementsDrive structured problem solving using data, facts, and cross-functional engagementPartner with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to resolve quality issues and verify the effectiveness of corrective actionsImprove first-pass yield, reduce defects and escapes, and strengthen production readinessApply lessons learned across product lines and teams to improve overall site performance Customer Quality & Cross-Functional Partnership Represent site quality with credibility to customers across Energetics and Electronics programsLead communication and resolution of customer concerns, nonconformances, corrective actions, and quality performance issuesEnsure customer quality requirements are understood and incorporated into planning and executionBuild strong partnerships across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, and Program ManagementDrive shared ownership of quality across functions as production demand and program complexity grow Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering, Quality, Operations, or a related technical field preferredSignificant quality leadership experience in a complex manufacturing environmentAerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing experience strongly preferredExperience supporting Energetics and/or Electronics manufacturing preferred; experience spanning both is highly desirableStrong working knowledge of AS9100 and customer quality requirementsDemonstrated experience with manufacturing quality, containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and quality system improvementExperience leading, coaching, and developing Quality Engineering professionals across multiple teams, product lines, or manufacturing processesAbility to establish consistent quality practices while addressing specialized technical and customer requirementsAbility to operate effectively at both the strategic and hands-on execution levelStrong customer-facing communication skills and credibilityProven ability to influence across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, and Program ManagementExperience in a growing or complex production environment preferred Ready to Make an Impact? If you are a proven quality leader who can unite teams, build strong systems, develop technical talent, and solve complex manufacturing problems, we encourage you to explore this opportunity. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.