Quality Manager - Irvine, CA

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network•Irvine, CA

2d•$129,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

Eaton’s IS AER FMC Aerospace division is seeking a Quality Manager to direct the site Quality function. Reporting to the Plant Manager, the role leads and develops Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Quality Systems, FAA Repair Station Quality Engineering, and Inspection. The manager maintains the site Quality Management System and ensures compliance with AS9100, customer-specific requirements, FAA, EASA, UK CAA regulations, and Eaton policies and procedures. The role drives regulatory compliance, audit readiness, process effectiveness, and continual improvement to support product quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. It also provides escalation support for customer satisfaction, corrective action, and quality engineering initiatives, including Eaton’s Quality Management System, Zero Defect Process, and Quality Best Practices. The Quality Manager develops and implements quality plans, procedures, metrics, and processes; oversees quality performance and corrective and preventive actions; supports production and new product development; and leads personnel and cross-functional improvement work. The position supports customer and regulatory interactions, audits, material review processes, first article inspections, and compliance activities. It establishes quality objectives and KPIs, evaluates trends and risks, reports performance, and champions waste reduction, process capability, and defect prevention. The role is on-site in Irvine, California. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of Irvine; relocation assistance is not available. The expected annual salary range is $129,000–$190,000, and the position is eligible for a variable incentive program. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship and must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of quality supervision or management experience in an aerospace, automotive, or medical manufacturing environment.
Experience managing AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship, now or in the future.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR: a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, political asylee, or refugee.
Must reside within 50 miles of Irvine, California.
Strong working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, FAA, EASA, UK CAA, and aerospace quality system requirements.
Demonstrated expertise in quality management systems, audit management, corrective actions, and continuous improvement programs.
Leadership ability to develop, coach, and lead cross-functional teams.
Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing, assembly, testing, inspection, and repair station operations.
Problem-solving expertise using methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, PFMEA, root cause analysis, and risk-based thinking.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with customers, regulatory authorities, auditors, suppliers, and employees at all organizational levels.
Strong analytical ability to interpret quality metrics, identify trends, manage risks, and drive data-based decisions.
Ability to lead and support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits, including corrective action implementation and effectiveness verification.
Commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction using Lean, Six Sigma, and quality improvement methodologies.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).
Lead Auditor certification or equivalent audit experience.
Strong working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing, assembly, testing, and inspection processes.
Experience with problem-solving methods such as 8D, root cause analysis, and associated statistical tools for analysis and improvement projects.
Working knowledge of process auditing techniques.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Teams, advanced Excel functions, pivot tables and macros, and Power BI digital transformation skills.
Ability to manage evolving business priorities, regulatory requirements, and organizational change.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and monitor short- and long-range plans to achieve quality objectives.
Identify needs and develop the Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, QMS, and Inspection functions.
Develop or modify quality procedures, metrics, and processes to achieve quality and on-time delivery goals.
Ensure compliance with customer requirements, government regulations, AS9100, applicable FAA, EASA, and UK CAA requirements, contractual requirements, and company standards.
Select, lead, coach, mentor, and develop Quality Department personnel, including quality engineers, supplier quality engineers, repair station quality engineers, QMS engineers, inspectors, and in-plant auditors.
Establish performance objectives and development plans for direct reports; identify training needs and maintain personnel competency.
Provide required reports and drive timely, effective corrective and preventive action.
Assist with technical quality functions and ensure effective customer communication and reporting.
Maintain and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System and quality initiatives, including internal auditing, statistical process control, and testing.
Support Quality Engineering in new product development and develop and use quality feedback tools to implement lessons learned.
Support Cost of Quality goals set by the Plant Manager and Regional Quality Manager.
Support production by resolving quality issues and conducting risk assessments; monitor manufacturing quality performance and product conformity.
Ensure effective disposition of nonconforming material through established Material Review Board processes.
Support First Article Inspection (AS9102), customer delegated inspection programs, and special process compliance activities.
Establish and monitor quality KPIs; analyze quality data, communicate trends, risks, and improvement opportunities, and present performance in management, leadership, customer, and operational reviews.
Develop action plans to achieve site quality objectives and champion continuous improvement initiatives.
Drive waste reduction, process capability improvement, and defect prevention.
Facilitate cross-functional improvement projects focused on customer satisfaction, productivity, and quality performance.