Senior Quality Engineering Manager

Design West Technologies, Inc.•Tustin, CA

19d•Onsite

About The Position

Design West Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of cutting-edge aerospace and military technologies. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we specialize in designing, manufacturing, and delivering high-performance solutions for our clients worldwide. Our team comprises passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in aerospace and defense. Position Overview: The Senior Quality Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Quality Engineering function to ensure products meet rigorous aerospace and defense standards, customer requirements, and regulatory compliance. This role oversees quality systems and processes, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and manages a team of Quality Engineers to support QAPP's per contract, production, engineering, new product development, and customer programs.

Requirements

8-12+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role within aerospace or defense manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, AS9145/APQP, FAI, and DoD/military standards.
Experience with NADCAP processes (if applicable to the company's operations).
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage cross-functional initiatives, and influence at senior levels.
Proven experience in RCCA, continuous improvement, and quality systems management.
Excellent communication, presentation, and customer-facing skills.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance (if required).

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop the Quality Engineering team, ensuring strong technical performance and alignment with company objectives.
Oversee and maintain compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable military/DoD quality standards.
Support and manage customer audits, internal audits, and third-party certification audits.
Develop and implement quality plans, control plans, FAI (First Article Inspection) documentation, and PPAP/AS9145 APQP requirements.
Provide technical leadership on root cause analysis and corrective actions using structured methodologies (8D, DMAIC, Ishikawa, etc.).
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure product quality across the entire lifecycle.
Manage nonconformance investigations, Material Review Board activities, and ensure timely disposition and documentation.
Monitor key quality metrics and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
Ensure supplier quality performance through audits, scorecards, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) reviews, and corrective action tracking.
Support new program launches to ensure design and manufacturing processes meet quality and reliability requirements.
Maintain strong knowledge of customer specifications.
Represent the company in customer meetings, supplier discussions, and program reviews related to quality.
Manage quality engineering budgets, resource planning, and staffing requirements.