Director of Quality

Red 6 • Louisville, CO

3d • $175,000 - $195,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Red 6 is seeking a hands-on, strategic Director of Quality to lead the company’s evolution into a scalable aerospace product organization. The role will develop and improve the processes, evidence, and behaviors needed for product qualification and production that meet customer, regulatory, safety, and aerospace industry expectations. The Director will embed quality planning into product development, improve manufacturing and supplier readiness, and establish practical, auditable quality processes while serving as a trusted partner to Engineering, Operations, Programs, and suppliers.

The Director will own the enterprise Quality strategy and roadmap; mature the Quality Management System (QMS); maintain AS9100 certification and audit readiness; and lead ISO 45001 maturation and certification readiness in coordination with safety and operations leaders. The role will deploy applicable APQP disciplines, integrate Quality into design and production processes, and establish scalable controls for documentation, traceability, inspection, testing, nonconformance, corrective action, and calibration.

The position will develop supplier quality processes, partner with Engineering and Operations on hardware quality and production controls, and improve the integration of Windchill PLM, Epsilon3 MES, Unanet ERP, and compliance tools. It will also lead customer quality engagement and build a capable Quality team and collaborative, learning-oriented quality culture.

The position is based on site in Denver, with periodic travel to suppliers and other Red 6 locations. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance. Estimated base salary is $175,000 to $195,000, dependent on skills and experience. The role may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance, subject to plan terms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant progressive aerospace or defense quality leadership experience, including building or scaling an AS9100 QMS and leading certification or surveillance audits.
• Demonstrated success moving products from prototype or development environments into qualified, controlled, repeatable production.
• Working knowledge of APQP per AS9145, AS9102 first article inspection, supplier quality, configuration management, CAPA, and risk-based process control.
• Ability to influence senior technical leaders without defaulting to authority or unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with customer and supplier quality requirements, quality metrics, and cross-functional improvement programs.
• Ability to work on site in Denver and travel periodically to suppliers and other Red 6 locations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

• ISO 45001 implementation or certification leadership.
• AS9115 awareness for deliverable software where relevant.
• DoD prime contractor interfaces, DCMA, DFARS, and applicable government customer quality requirements.
• Experience with PLM, MES, ERP, and integrated digital quality workflows, especially Windchill, Epsilon3, and Unanet.
• Lean Six Sigma, ASQ quality credentials, GD&T, hardware reliability, and complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience developing small teams into mature, business-enabling quality organizations.

Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise Quality strategy and roadmap, scaling the QMS to product maturity, production volume, and customer commitments.
• Maintain and continuously improve AS9100 certification and audit readiness; lead management reviews, internal audits, corrective action effectiveness, risk-based thinking, and process ownership.
• Lead ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management system maturation and certification readiness in coordination with safety and operations leaders.
• Deploy practical APQP disciplines aligned to AS9145 where applicable, including quality planning, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, measurement system analysis, first article inspection, and production readiness reviews.
• Integrate Quality into design inputs and reviews, verification and validation, configuration control, design changes, manufacturing transitions, and product release criteria.
• Establish scalable document and record controls, product pedigree, serial-level traceability, inspection and test evidence, nonconformance controls, material review, CAPA, and calibration systems.
• Develop supplier qualification, surveillance, performance scorecards, supplier corrective actions, and risk-based oversight of contract manufacturers and critical suppliers.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to strengthen hardware quality, reliability, manufacturability, process validation, FOD/ESD controls, and handling of nonconforming material.
• Improve the connection between Windchill PLM, Epsilon3 MES, Unanet ERP, and compliance tools to support controlled, usable, auditable data across design, build, and delivery.
• Lead customer quality engagement, audits, contractual quality deliverables, and coordination with defense and aerospace stakeholders as applicable.
• Build a capable Quality team through clear roles, coaching, succession planning, and cross-functional influence.
• Partner constructively with Engineering by translating standards and contractual obligations into design intent, risk, and measurable acceptance criteria.
• Work with Engineering and Operations to co-design efficient solutions while distinguishing nonnegotiable compliance outcomes from implementation choices.
• Establish early Quality engagement in program planning and design reviews, and resolve disagreements using evidence, risk, cost, schedule, and accountable decision ownership.
• Establish shared performance measures and a regular Quality–Engineering working cadence to reduce late surprises and unproductive escalation.
• Promote a just, learning-oriented culture that encourages timely issue reporting, root cause analysis, and effective preventive action.
• Publish an agreed risk-based Quality maturity roadmap with process owners and milestones during the first 12 months.
• Sustain AS9100 compliance and close systemic audit or corrective action gaps with evidence of effectiveness.
• Introduce an appropriate APQP and production readiness framework for priority product lines.
• Improve supplier quality visibility, product traceability, and readiness of controlled manufacturing documentation.
• Demonstrate stronger Quality–Engineering collaboration through earlier issue resolution and fewer late-stage quality surprises.
• Provide leadership with a scorecard covering escapes, rework, supplier performance, CAPA aging, audit findings, and readiness milestones.

Benefits

• Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage at 100% for employees.
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and parental leave.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Voluntary worksite benefits, including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage.
• May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance, subject to plan terms.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director