Quality Operations Manager

Airbus•Kinston, NC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Operations Manager ensures that all manufacturing and operational processes meet stringent aerospace industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. This role leads quality assurance initiatives, drives continuous improvement, and collaborates across departments to maintain excellence in product safety, reliability, and compliance. The Airbus Aerosystems Kinston facility sits at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing, specializing in the production of large, advanced composite aerostructures. Our team builds critical components for the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 XWB, including the composite center fuselage and wing spar.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or +10 years of experience in a related technical field.
Associate’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or +12 years of experience in a related technical field.
Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent ASQ certification.
Proficient in quality systems (AS9100, ISO 9001), audit practices, and CAPA processes.
Strong understanding of aerospace regulations and EASA compliance requirements.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Proven track record of driving quality improvements and sustaining compliance in a high-reliability manufacturing environment.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization, including operators, engineers, and executives.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and quality management systems (QMS) used in manufacturing environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or +8 years of experience in a related discipline.
Minimum of 10 years experience leading multi-site quality operations or working with international aerospace regulatory bodies.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
Familiarity with enterprise quality management software (e.g., ETQ, MasterControl).
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, or other advanced product quality planning methodologies.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence across organizational levels.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams through audits, quality transformations, or certifications.
Experience presenting quality performance metrics, audit findings, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and external regulators.
Experience with aerospace-specific tools such as SAP, MES systems, and statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP).

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with aerospace industry standards (e.g., AS9100, FAA, EASA) and regulatory requirements throughout the production lifecycle.
Conduct audits and inspections, both internal and external, to identify risks, non-conformances, and opportunities for corrective action.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Six Sigma, Lean, or other methodologies to optimize quality performance and reduce defects.
Analyze quality metrics and trends to drive strategic decision-making and implement preventative measures across production lines.
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure quality requirements are integrated into design, production, and sourcing processes.
Train and mentor quality team members, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and ongoing development.
Identify and assess quality-related risks across operations, implementing mitigation strategies to prevent impact on safety, compliance, or delivery.
Lead root cause investigations using tools like 9S, 5 Whys, or FMEA, and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are implemented and sustained.