Director of Quality

Aerostar Manufacturing; Romulus (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aerostar Manufacturing in Romulus, MI, seeks a Director of Quality with automotive manufacturing expertise to lead our quality strategy, QMS, and overall performance. This hands-on leader drives prevention, accountability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement across operations.

You will oversee APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA, and 8D processes, mentor quality staff, and partner with customers and suppliers to cut defects and costs while strengthening a culture of quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of automotive manufacturing quality experience.
• 5+ years of Quality leadership experience.
• Strong expertise in IATF 16949 and automotive customer-specific requirements.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans, and 8D.

Responsibilities

• Lead the company’s overall quality strategy, KPIs, and improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and continuously improve the QMS in line with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.
• Serve as the senior Quality contact for automotive customers and manage escalations.
• Provide leadership for APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and 8D activities.
• Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Drive reductions in PPM, scrap, rework, and warranty costs.
• Lead supplier quality performance, corrective actions, audits, and development.
• Develop and mentor Quality Managers, Engineers, Technicians, and Inspection personnel.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, root-cause analysis, and data-driven improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Quality strategy

Data-driven improvement

Lean Six Sigma

Audits & corrective actions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field

Tools

APQP

PPAP

PFMEA

SPC

MSA

Control Plans

8D

Job description

Director of Quality | Automotive Manufacturing

Aerostar Manufacturing is seeking an experienced Director of Quality to lead our quality strategy, Quality Management System, and overall quality performance across our manufacturing operations.

This is a key leadership role for a hands‑on quality professional who can strengthen our culture of prevention, accountability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement while developing a high‑performing Quality organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the company’s overall quality strategy, KPIs, and improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and continuously improve our QMS in accordance with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.
• Serve as the senior Quality contact for automotive customers and manage escalations, corrective actions, and customer scorecards.
• Provide leadership for APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and 8D activities.
• Lead internal, customer, and third‑party audits.
• Drive reductions in PPM, scrap, rework, customer complaints, warranty costs, and Cost of Poor Quality.
• Lead supplier quality performance, corrective actions, audits, and development.
• Develop and mentor Quality Managers, Engineers, Technicians, and Inspection personnel.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, root‑cause analysis, and data‑driven continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of automotive manufacturing quality experience.
• 5+ years of Quality leadership experience.
• Strong expertise in IATF 16949 and automotive customer‑specific requirements.
• Extensive experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans, and 8D.
• Proven experience managing automotive customers, audits, and cross‑functional quality improvement initiatives.

ASQ, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and experience supporting multiple automotive OEM/Tier 1 customers are highly preferred.

Reports to: Senior Vice President of Operations

Aerostar Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.