Quality Manager

The Structures Company•Columbia, MO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Manager leads and manages quality assurance and quality control to ensure products, manufacturing processes, and operations meet customer requirements, aerospace industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company quality objectives. The role oversees development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS), including compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, applicable FAA regulations, customer-specific requirements, and other relevant aerospace standards. The Quality Manager works across Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Operations to prevent defects, improve product reliability, reduce scrap and rework, and foster a culture of quality. The position leads the Quality Assurance department and its staff, strategies, objectives, KPIs, and budgets. It maintains the QMS and related documentation; oversees audits, regulatory and customer compliance, configuration management, traceability, inspection, product release, calibrated measurement equipment, and nonconforming product controls. The manager leads corrective and preventive action, supplier quality, customer quality relations, and continuous improvement initiatives, while communicating quality risks and performance to senior leadership. The position is primarily based in an aerospace manufacturing facility, with regular production-floor presence. Occasional domestic or international travel may be required for supplier audits, customer visits, or quality reviews. The role requires working in a production environment and following applicable safety requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
Typically 5–10 years of experience in quality management, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality, preferably in aerospace.
Demonstrated experience leading a quality department or managing quality professionals in a manufacturing environment.
Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 QMS requirements.
Experience with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action, internal auditing, and nonconformance management.
Hands-on experience operating Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM).
Knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, inspection methods, metrology, and manufacturing processes.
Experience with customer and supplier audits, quality performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
Must be able to work in a production environment and follow applicable safety requirements.

Nice To Haves

ERP or manufacturing execution system experience.
ASQ Certified Quality Manager/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
AS9100 internal auditor or lead auditor certification.
Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
Knowledge of statistical process control, measurement system analysis (MSA), capability studies, and FMEA.
Experience with aerospace special processes and applicable Nadcap accreditation requirements.
Familiarity with FAA regulatory requirements, customer-specific aerospace requirements, and supplier quality controls.
Experience with precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, composites, assembly, or other relevant aerospace manufacturing processes.
Occasional domestic or international travel for supplier audits, customer visits, or quality reviews may be required.

Responsibilities

Lead the Quality Assurance department, including staffing, training, performance management, and resource planning.
Develop and execute quality strategies aligned with business objectives, customer expectations, and operational targets.
Establish and monitor quality objectives, KPIs, and departmental budgets; promote accountability, continuous improvement, and zero-defect manufacturing.
Provide leadership and guidance to quality engineers, inspectors, auditors, and technicians.
Maintain and continuously improve the QMS in accordance with AS9100, ISO 9001, customer, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Manage internal, external, customer, and registrar audits, including preparation, execution, corrective actions, and follow-up.
Maintain quality procedures, work instructions, inspection plans, records, and document control processes; ensure configuration management, product traceability, and control of documented information.
Support compliance with applicable FAA requirements, including 14 CFR Part 21 or Part 145 where relevant.
Oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection and product release activities.
Ensure manufacturing processes meet engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and customer acceptance criteria.
Establish and maintain inspection, sampling, and control plans and risk-based quality controls.
Ensure appropriate use and control of calibrated measurement equipment, gauges, and testing systems.
Monitor manufacturing performance for process variation, recurring defects, and improvement opportunities.
Ensure nonconforming materials and products are identified, segregated, documented, dispositioned, and controlled.
Oversee first article inspection activities in accordance with AS9102 where applicable.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action investigations involving internal defects, customer complaints, supplier issues, and audit findings.
Implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions using methods such as 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, and FMEA; verify effectiveness and prevent recurrence.
Analyze scrap, rework, rejection rates, escapes, and warranty or return data to identify systemic issues and improve yield, process capability, and cost of poor quality.
Manage supplier quality performance and supplier qualification, approval, monitoring, audits, corrective actions, and development initiatives.
Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure suppliers meet aerospace quality and delivery requirements; evaluate supplier risk and monitor performance.
Ensure controls for externally provided processes, materials, components, and special processes.
Serve as the primary quality contact for customers, auditors, certification bodies, and applicable regulatory authorities.
Manage customer complaints, product escapes, quality notifications, and corrective action responses.
Support customer source inspections, product acceptance activities, and quality reviews.
Communicate quality risks, performance trends, and improvement plans to senior leadership.
Partner with Engineering and Operations to resolve drawing, specification, process, and product conformity issues.
Lead continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical process control, and other problem-solving methodologies.
Implement risk-based thinking, process controls, and preventive measures to improve manufacturing consistency and production efficiency.
Use data analytics and trend analysis to identify process optimization opportunities and reduce scrap, rework, inspection costs, and nonconformance rates.
Participate in new product introduction, process validation, production readiness, and manufacturing transfer activities.