Section Manager, Quality Engineering

BWXT•Barberton, OH

3d•$98,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Section Manager, Quality Assurance Engineering, provides leadership, technical direction, and operational oversight for Quality Engineering activities across the Barberton facility. This role leads a team of Quality Engineers responsible for quality planning, process capability, compliance, problem-solving, manufacturing support, and continuous improvement. The Section Manager ensures quality requirements are integrated into engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and supplier processes, while also supporting the development and execution of balanced quality programs that meet customer, regulatory, and internal standards. The role serves as a primary technical and operational interface between Quality Assurance Engineering, Operations, Engineering & Technical Services, and external stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical discipline.
Minimum of 2 years leading/managing a team (internal) or 5 years leadership experience (external).
Broad knowledge of quality systems, engineering processes, problem-solving tools, and regulatory or customer-driven quality requirements.
Proven experience in quality engineering and/or manufacturing engineering in an industrial or technical environment.
Strong communication, collaboration, and customer engagement skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
All candidates must be U.S. citizens.
Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening.
The position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or professional certifications (CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, CMQ/OE).
Experience supporting large-scale machining, fabrication, or heavy manufacturing operations.
Experience in regulated or high-compliance industries (defense, nuclear, aerospace, industrial equipment).
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional investigations and implement sustainable quality improvements.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Quality Engineers and supporting technicians, ensuring strong technical and operational capability.
Assign personnel, balance workloads, and ensure adequate coverage to support engineering reviews, operations, and customer requirements.
Establish performance standards and development plans aligned with departmental goals.
Promote a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Responsible for cost center budget development and management. Responsible to meet manhour and cost commitments for cost centers managed.
Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, customer specifications, and regulatory codes (e.g., ISO, ASME, MIL-Q, NQA-1, 10CFR50).
Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality assurance program procedures and supporting documents.
Participate in internal and external audits, vendor surveillance, and customer reviews, ensuring findings are resolved effectively.
Ensure that contract requirements and revisions are incorporated into technical procedures, manufacturing plans, and quality documentation.
Provide oversight of quality processes related to NDE, metrology, and inspection—ensuring alignment with engineering requirements and operational needs.
Provide engineering oversight for quality planning, including process validations, FMEAs, control plans, and risk assessments.
Lead structured problem-solving efforts using disciplined methods (DMAIC, 5-Why, fishbone, etc.).
Oversee quality inputs to design reviews, manufacturability assessments, and engineering evaluations.
Ensure quality engineering practices are integrated into manufacturing process development and production readiness activities.
Serve as a technical authority for complex product or process-related quality issues.
Collaborate closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, and Planning to ensure quality is built into processes, tooling, work instructions, and pre-work activities.
Provide on-floor support for manufacturing challenges, including defect reduction, process capability improvement, and nonconformance resolution.
Support integration and maintenance of inspection methods, tooling, gaging, and measurement systems required for manufacturing and verification.
Coordinate with QC Operations, NDE, and inspection teams to align quality engineering direction with day-to-day operations.
Support supplier quality assurance activities including review of supplier procedures, qualification packages, test reports, and audit results.
Act as a technical liaison with customers and government representatives regarding engineering quality matters.
Contribute to proposal activities, including man-hour estimates and quality requirements for new business opportunities.
Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve reliability, reduce variability, and enhance overall quality performance.
Monitor quality metrics, analyze trends, and lead implementation of improvement strategies.
Drive systemic improvements to prevent recurrence of nonconformances and improve process robustness.