Senior Quality Manager

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance. Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk.

About the role

Forterra is looking for a Senior Quality Manager to support a large autonomous research client in the Clarksburg, MD area. As a leader, you will work closely with design and production teams to solve problems, own and manage all assigned CAPAs to ensure timely closure, and act as a key participant in the configuration management process. You will respond to questions about achieving quality goals, implement changes to reduce errors, and meet with customers to discuss quality expectations for new projects. Additionally, you will design documents, processes, and procedures that outline specifications and communicate them to all responsible teams. The role involves observing production processes to identify cost-effective improvements, acting as the escalation point for the Non-Conformance Management Review process, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Understand and analyze complex problems and derive solutions.
• Effectively communicate technical issues, solutions, ideas, and concepts to a diverse audience including Managers, Customers, and Executive Management.
• Drive continuous improvement and defect reduction using data analysis.
• Support nonconformance/noncompliance investigations to analyze and determine root cause, define corrective actions, and ensure corrective action implementation is effective.
• Lead program and quality assurance reviews.
• Monitor and ensure completion of monthly quality performance metrics.
• Understand design intent, requirements, and specifications and drive reviews of customer and Forterra requirements to ensure all are consumed into product/process requirements.
• Review quality documentation including policies, procedures, and processes to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Maintain, enforce, and measure quality assurance processes.
• Drive countermeasures for Quality processes not achieving prescribed KPI/PPI targets.
• Monitor and control the overall activities of the team and identify problem areas requiring support.
• Assign duties and monitor quality of work; assure that staff conforms to government regulations and organizational policies and procedures.
• Support representation of Quality processes during internal and external third-party audits.
• Conduct internal audits of products, processes, and procedures to drive compliance.
• Provide support in development and growth of the APQP process.
• Provide support on occasion to conduct supplier evaluations, assessments, and audits.
• Monitor and manage the Quality department budget.
• Develop talent within the team to increase performance.
• Proactively address performance issues on the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.
• Role may require up to 20% travel.

Requirements

• Mission-First Mindset - Put the needs of the mission and customers first.
• Ownership Mentality - Assume responsibility, contribute to a culture of performance.
• Technical Aptitude and Intellectual Curiosity - Work at the leading edge of capabilities like machine learning, autonomy, distributed networking, and multi-modal sensor fusion.
• Structured Thinker and Problem Solver - Distill complexity into digestible components and supervise execution.
• 360 Degree Leader - Lead and influence in a non-hierarchical, dynamic matrix structure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
• 6+ years of Quality Management work experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical, or Automotive manufacturing.
• 6+ years of direct Quality Management supervisory experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical, or Automotive manufacturing.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Self-guided and ability to work independently.
• Auditing experience within the ISO9001:2015 quality management standard.
• Proven track record of understanding and managing First Article Inspection / PPAPs.
• Working knowledge of Material Review Board (MRB) standards, practices, and customer engagement.
• Experience facilitating effective Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA).
• Experience with Dimensional Inspection Techniques and demonstrated ability to read and interpret drawing and technical specifications.
• Experience with Advanced Product Quality Processes (PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, 8D, A3 Problem Solving).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interface with different functions at all levels.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated work ethic, professional maturity, and strong attention to detail.
• AS9100, ISO 9001:2015, TS16949, or other quality management system equivalent.
• Experience in new program launch.
• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and in NetSuite or similar ERPs (SAP, Plex, etc.).
• Experience in Configuration Management.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Skills

We love to see the following additional skills and qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
• 8+ years of Quality Management experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical, or Automotive manufacturing quality.
• 8+ years of direct Quality Management supervisory experience in Defense, Aerospace, Medical, or Automotive manufacturing quality.
• ASQ Certification (CQE/CQA) – considered a strong plus.
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-620, IPC J-STD-001, IPC-A-610) – considered a plus.
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) trained.
• Lead Auditor certification, ISO9001:2015 or equivalent standard.
• Lean or Six Sigma experience is a strong plus.
• Compliance and Regulatory experience.
• Understanding and ability to use the DMAIC Process: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
• Skilled in customer interaction and presentation.

Pay

US Salary Range: $135,000—$175,000

Benefits

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with a variety of options.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.
• Equity in Forterra included in most full-time roles.

This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.