The Engineer Manager, Quality, is responsible for leading, developing, and managing the Quality Assurance Engineering team while serving as the primary quality point of contact for customers. This role ensures effective execution of quality assurance activities across production, receiving, supplier quality, laboratory, and MRO operations. The QAE Manager provides technical leadership, drives continuous improvement, ensures compliance with regulatory and customer requirements, and represents the organization professionally in all customer quality interactions. Must be U.S Persons.
Leadership & Team Management
- Directly manage and develop Quality Assurance Engineers, providing coaching, mentoring, performance feedback, and career development support.
- Assign and prioritize workload to ensure timely completion of quality activities across programs and functional areas.
- Foster a strong quality culture focused on accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
- Identify training needs and ensure cross-training to build team capability and flexibility.
Customer Interface & Program Support
- Serve as the primary quality point of contact for customers, including supplier quality representatives and customer auditors.
- Lead customer communications related to quality performance, nonconformances, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Represent the organization during customer audits, meetings, and program reviews with a high level of professionalism and technical competence.
- Ensure customer-specific requirements are understood, communicated, and effectively implemented by the QAE team.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with AS9100/AS9110/AS9120, FAA, and customer-specific quality requirements.
- Oversee nonconformance management, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes, ensuring timely and effective closure.
- Review and approve First Article Inspections (FAIs), deviation requests, and other quality documentation as required.
- Support internal and external audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
Supplier Quality & Development Oversight
- Provide oversight and direction for supplier quality activities, including issue resolution, corrective actions, and supplier development.
- Collaborate with Procurement and Engineering to address supplier performance issues and drive improvements.
- Ensure consistent supplier quality communication and escalation when necessary.
Operational & Functional Support
- Provide leadership oversight for quality support to production, receiving inspection, laboratory, and MRO operations.
- Ensure effective use of inspection resources, including CMM and testing capabilities.
- Support quality activities related to repair stations, delegated inspection authority, and regulatory compliance, as applicable.
Systems, Metrics & Continuous Improvement
- Oversee quality systems and tools, including SAP quality modules and reporting.
- Establish, monitor, and communicate key quality metrics and performance indicators.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, improve process capability, and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Promote workplace organization and efficiency through adherence to 5S principles.
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
Required Skills
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Excellent customer-facing communication and presentation abilities
- Sound technical judgment and decision-making skills
- Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities
- Results-driven with a continuous improvement mindset
- High level of professionalism and integrity
- Ability to work in manufacturing, inspection, laboratory, and office environments.
Required Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality, or a related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in Quality Engineering or Quality Assurance roles, with prior leadership experience preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of aerospace quality standards (AS9100/AS9102) and regulatory requirements.
- Experience leading customer-facing quality activities and managing customer relationships.
- Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis, corrective action systems, and audit management.