Quality Lead – Defence & Manufacturing

Supashock Advanced Technologies; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Supashock Advanced Technologies in Adelaide is seeking an experienced Quality Lead to own quality across Defence programs while supporting quality outcomes across the wider advanced manufacturing business.

This senior, hands-on individual contributor role involves auditing, customer engagement, and direct collaboration with engineering and production teams to deliver robust quality outcomes across the product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Extensive Australian Defence industry experience and understanding of Defence quality expectations.
• Proven ability to own quality across programs and drive audits and corrective actions.
• Experience interacting directly with customers, auditors and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of quality and assurance activities across Defence programs.
• Interpret and apply Defence contractual and quality requirements with customers.
• Prepare for, coordinate and participate in Defence customer, internal, supplier and certification audits.
• Manage audit findings and drive corrective actions to closure.
• Maintain and improve the QMS in line with ISO 9001 and AS9100D.
• Review drawings and technical documentation from a quality perspective.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain to meet quality targets.
• Lead root cause analysis for non-conformances and implement corrective actions.
• Provide hands-on quality support across broader manufacturing operations.

Skills

Defence industry experience

Hands-on leadership

Audits & non-conformance

Education

Engineering or Quality qualification

Tools

ISO 9001 knowledge

AS9100D knowledge

Job description

Are you an experienced quality professional with Australian Defence industry experience who enjoys being close to the product, the customer and the day-to-day work?

Supashock is seeking an experienced Quality Lead to take ownership of quality across our growing Defence programs while supporting quality outcomes across our broader advanced manufacturing business.

This is a senior, hands-on individual contributor role with no direct reports. You'll lead through your technical expertise, judgement and ability to get things done - personally working through quality issues, supporting audits, engaging directly with customers and working alongside our engineering and manufacturing teams.

While Defence will be a key area of responsibility, Supashock also operates across Automotive, Motorsport and Autonomous Systems. We're looking for someone who is adaptable, technically capable and willing to apply your quality expertise wherever it's needed across the business.

The Opportunity

You'll take a leading role in ensuring Supashock meets the quality and assurance requirements of our Defence customers and programs, while contributing to quality across our wider engineering and manufacturing operations.

Working across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Program teams, you'll ensure customer, contractual and quality requirements are understood and effectively implemented throughout the product lifecycle.

This isn't a role where you'll simply oversee the work of others.

You'll be expected to get into the detail - reviewing drawings and specifications, preparing for and participating in audits, investigating non-conformances, working through customer quality requirements, supporting the shop floor and personally driving quality issues through to resolution.

You’ll have the autonomy to identify what needs attention, take ownership and make it happen.

What You’ll Be Doing

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of quality and assurance activities across Supashock's Defence programs
• Interpreting and applying Defence customer, contractual and quality requirements
• Working directly with customers on quality requirements, issues and outcomes
• Preparing for, coordinating and participating in Defence customer, internal, supplier and certification audits
• Managing audit findings and driving corrective actions through to effective closure
• Maintaining and continually improving Supashock's Quality Management System in line with ISO 9001 and AS9100D
• Reviewing engineering drawings, specifications and technical documentation from a quality perspective
• Working closely with Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure technical and quality requirements are understood and achieved
• Investigating non-conformances and quality issues, undertaking root cause analysis and implementing practical corrective actions
• Supporting quality planning, inspection, verification and assurance activities throughout the product lifecycle
• Working with suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve performance
• Identifying quality risks early and proactively implementing solutions
• Supporting continuous improvement across products, processes and systems
• Providing practical, hands‑on quality support across Supashock's broader manufacturing operations as required

About You

We're looking for an experienced quality professional with genuine Australian Defence industry experience.

You'll be equally comfortable dealing directly with customers and auditors as you are working alongside engineers, machinists and production teams.

You're proactive and solutions-focused. When you identify a quality issue, you investigate it, engage the right people and take responsibility for driving it through to resolution.

You'll Bring:

• Demonstrated quality experience within the Australian Defence industry
• Practical experience supporting Defence projects, programs or customers
• Strong understanding of Defence quality and assurance requirements
• Demonstrated experience preparing for and participating in Defence customer and/or external quality audits
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of ISO 9001
• Knowledge and practical experience with AS9100D
• Strong experience in non-conformance management, root cause analysis and corrective action
• Experience dealing directly with customers and managing customer quality requirements
• Strong technical aptitude and the ability to work effectively across engineering and manufacturing environments
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to work autonomously
• The ability to obtain and maintain an Australian Government NV1 security clearance

Technical Knowledge

Practical engineering and manufacturing knowledge will be highly regarded, including:

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Understanding of tolerances, specifications and acceptance requirements
• Knowledge of engineering materials and their applications
• Understanding of manufacturing, inspection and verification processes
• Knowledge of material treatments, coatings and finishing processes
• Understanding of the relationship between design requirements, manufacturing processes and product quality
• An engineering, manufacturing, quality or related technical qualification will also be highly regarded.

Highly Regarded

• Current or previous NV1 security clearance
• Supplier quality assurance and supplier development experience
• Experience supporting AS9100 certification or maintaining an AS9100-certified QMS
• Experience across aerospace, automotive or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Experience working within an engineering-led product development and manufacturing organisation

Why Join Supashock?

Supashock is a South Australian advanced technology company delivering innovative solutions across Defence, Automotive, Motorsport and Autonomous Systems.

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of quality within our growing Defence portfolio while remaining hands‑on across a diverse advanced manufacturing business.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of quality across significant Defence programs
• Work directly with customers, auditors and key stakeholders
• Stay technically and operationally involved - not removed from the work
• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Program teams
• Apply your experience across a diverse range of technologies and programs
• Have the autonomy to identify problems and drive solutions
• Influence how quality systems and practices evolve as Supashock grows
• Make a visible contribution to Australian-designed and manufactured technology