Director of Quality

red6; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Red 6 is seeking a hands-on, strategic Director of Quality to scale our aerospace product organization in Colorado. You will embed quality into development, manufacturing, and supplier readiness, ensuring AS9100 and safety standards are met while driving auditable, repeatable processes.

The role requires leading QMS expansion, audits, and APQP alignment with AS9145, plus strong cross-functional partnerships with Engineering, Operations, Programs, and suppliers to deliver quality and on-time

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical discipline, or equivalent.
• Significant aerospace/defense quality leadership experience, including AS9100 QMS and audits.
• Proven success moving products from prototype to qualified, repeatable production.
• Knowledge of APQP per AS9145, AS9102 first article inspection, supplier quality, configuration management, CAPA, and risk-based control.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and facilitate collaboration across functions.
• Experience with customer and supplier quality requirements and quality metrics.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the enterprise Quality strategy and roadmap, scaling the QMS to match product maturity and production volume.
• Maintain AS9100 certification and audit readiness; lead management reviews, audits, corrective action, risk-based thinking, and process ownership.
• Lead ISO 45001 health and safety system maturation and certification readiness with safety and operations leaders.
• Apply APQP disciplines aligned to AS9145: quality planning, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, first article inspection, and production readiness.
• Integrate Quality into design inputs, reviews, verification/validation, configuration control, and product release criteria.
• Establish scalable document/record controls, traceability, nonconformance controls, CAPA, calibration, and material review.
• Develop supplier qualification, surveillance, scorecards, supplier CAPA, and risk-based oversight of contract manufacturers.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to improve hardware quality, manufacturability, process validation, FOD/ESD controls, and handling of nonconforming material.
• Improve data integration across Windchill PLM, Epsilon3 MES, Unanet ERP, and compliance tools for auditable data.
• Lead customer quality engagement, audits, and contractual quality deliverables with defense/aerospace stakeholders.

Skills

Quality leadership

APQP

AS9100

Audits & compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk-based thinking

Process improvement

Leadership coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Tools

Windchill PLM

Epsilon3 MES

Unanet ERP

ISO 45001

QMS software

Job description

Company Overview

Red 6 is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) technology startup leading the way in synthetic air combat training. Our primary technology, supporting our ATARS product, enables pilots to simulate the cognitive challenges of flying while accessing realistic, scalable training in dynamic outdoor environments.

Director of Quality

Lead Red 6 into a scalable aerospace product organization.

Red 6 develops advanced augmented reality capabilities for aerospace and defense applications. We seek a hands-on, strategic Director of Quality to lead the next phase of our evolution into disciplined, repeatable product qualification and production. This leader will strengthen existing foundations while guiding the processes, evidence, and behaviors needed to meet customer, regulatory, safety, and aerospace industry expectations.

Success requires more than maintaining certifications. The Director will embed quality planning into product development, improve manufacturing and supplier readiness, and create a culture in which teams jointly solve problems before they become defects, delays, or compliance findings. Key results are building practical, auditable quality processes with Quality as a trusted partner across Engineering, Operations, Programs, and the supplier base.

WHAT YOU WILL LEAD

• Own the enterprise Quality strategy and roadmap, scaling the Quality Management System (QMS) to match product maturity, production volume, and customer commitments.
• Maintain and continuously improve AS9100 certification and audit readiness. Lead management reviews, internal audits, corrective action effectiveness, risk based thinking, and process ownership.
• Lead ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management system maturation and certification readiness, in coordination with accountable safety and operations leaders.
• Deploy practical Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) disciplines aligned to AS9145 where applicable, including quality planning, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, measurement system analysis, first article inspection, and production readiness reviews.
• Integrate Quality into design inputs, reviews, verification and validation, configuration control, design changes, manufacturing transitions, and product release criteria.
• Establish scalable document and record controls, product pedigree, serial level traceability, inspection and test evidence, nonconformance controls, material review, CAPA, and calibration systems.
• Develop supplier qualification, surveillance, performance scorecards, supplier corrective actions, and risk based oversight of contract manufacturers and critical suppliers.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to strengthen hardware quality, reliability, manufacturability, process validation, FOD/ESD controls, and handling of nonconforming material.
• Improve the connection between Windchill PLM, Epsilon3 MES, Unanet ERP, and existing compliance tools to support controlled, usable, auditable data across design, build, and delivery.
• Lead customer quality engagement, audits, contractual quality deliverables, and coordination with defense and aerospace stakeholders as applicable.

LEAD A COLLABORATIVE QUALITY CULTURE

• Build a capable Quality team with clear roles, coaching, succession planning, and cross functional influence.
• Act as a constructive partner to Engineering. Translate standards and contractual obligations into design intent, risk, and measurable acceptance criteria rather than relying on clause citations alone.
• Distinguish nonnegotiable compliance outcomes from implementation choices. Invite Engineering and Operations to co-design efficient solutions.
• Create early quality engagement in program planning and design reviews. Resolve disagreements using evidence, risk, cost, schedule, and accountable decision ownership.
• Establish shared performance measures and a regular Quality-Engineering working cadence to reduce late surprises and unproductive escalation.
• Promote a just, learning oriented culture that encourages timely issue reporting, root cause analysis, and effective preventive action.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant progressive aerospace or defense quality leadership experience, including building or scaling an AS9100 QMS and leading certification or surveillance audits.
• Demonstrated success moving products from prototype or development environments into qualified, controlled, repeatable production.
• Working knowledge of APQP per AS9145, AS9102 first article inspection, supplier quality, configuration management, CAPA, and risk based process control.
• Ability to influence senior technical leaders without defaulting to authority or unnecessary bureaucracy. Strong facilitation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with customer and supplier quality requirements, quality metrics, and cross functional improvement pr