Quality Leader - Avionics

Avionics Quality Leader

As the Avionics Quality Leader, you will be responsible for driving Zero Defect and Quality Excellence across aerospace operations. This includes ensuring regulatory and customer compliance, maintaining and improving Quality and Safety Management Systems, prioritizing quality objectives, and leading improvement efforts for key performance indicators. You will play a pivotal role in maintaining customer relationships, leading structured problem-solving for quality investigations, and fostering a culture of respect for people, continuous improvement, and customer focus. Additionally, you will oversee supplier quality initiatives, partner with Development Quality to support New Product Introduction (NPI), and collaborate across functions to achieve zero-defect outcomes.

Quality Leadership Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously improve certified quality systems (AS9100/AS9110) to meet aerospace industry standards.
• Manage and review government and commercial aerospace customer contracts, ensuring alignment with quality requirements.
• Lead the quality team, setting priorities aligned with operational and strategic business objectives.
• Drive quality performance management processes, including key performance indicators and Quality Management Reviews (QMRs).
• Own problem-solving initiatives by going to Genba, driving solutions to closure, and ensuring sustainable improvements.
• Report quality challenges and opportunities to site and global leadership teams.
• Serve as the management representative for quality system certifications, ensuring compliance and readiness for audits.

New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality Responsibilities

• Partner with Program, Engineering, and Development Quality counterparts to define and support Supply Chain-related NPI activities, including maturing and executing AS9145 (APQP) deliverables.
• Lead the deployment of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) across the business to ensure clear understanding and ownership across the matrix.

Supplier Quality & Onboarding Support Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for supplier quality in support of aerospace NPI programs.
• Partner with Sourcing and Engineering to develop supplier focus areas based on performance metrics.
• Define and implement standard work for supplier selection, onboarding, and development processes.
• Lead strategic supplier quality management projects to enhance supplier capabilities and performance.

FLIGHT DECK Behaviors and Responsibilities

• Apply FLIGHT DECK principles to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of lean thinking, problem-solving, going to Genba, and Kaizen to eliminate waste and improve processes.
• Utilize Hoshin Kanri (HK) to align strategic objectives with operational goals.
• Implement Standard Work practices to ensure consistency and repeatability in processes.
• Lead by example in demonstrating FLIGHT DECK behaviors, including humility, transparency, collaboration, accountability, and adaptability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college (or a high school diploma / GED with at least 12 years of experience in quality)
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in manufacturing quality management
• Minimum of 5 years of experience directly leading people

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in aerospace quality management, with a focus on new product introduction (NPI) processes.
• Proven ability to lead dynamic teams and a passion for developing and coaching team members.
• Demonstrated ability to drive impactful projects efficiently, with minimal resources and low risk.
• Exceptional technical communication skills, capable of engaging effectively across all levels of management, from engineering to operations.
• Deep expertise in ISO 9001/AS9100 standards, with the ability to apply them seamlessly to complex aerospace manufacturing and design environments.
• Extensive experience in Quality Management, with a strong focus on New Product Introduction (NPI) processes.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with the flexibility to travel independently as needed to support business objectives.
• Driven and self-motivated, with a proactive approach to challenges.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a precision-focused mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively.
• Versatile team player who thrives both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong technical aptitude.

Compensation Grade SPB1