Director of Quality (Aerospace & Defense)

Arena Family of Companies; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite cafeteria

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Job summary

Arena Family of Companies in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Director of Quality to lead QA, QC, QE, and supplier quality on a factory floor, reporting to the CEO. The role focuses on in-process, incoming, and final inspection, NCMR/MRB, scrap reduction, corrective action, and production support.

You will drive AS9100 Rev. D quality systems, partner with Engineering and Operations, and guide quality initiatives across metal fabrication, welding, NDT, machining, and electromechanical assembly, with

Qualifications

• 10+ years of quality leadership in aerospace manufacturing.
• Director-level or senior management experience in a plant environment.
• Expertise in NCMR/MRB, incoming/in-process/final inspection, supplier quality, RCA, corrective action, and scrap reduction.
• AS9100 Rev. D experience and relevant engineering degree.

Responsibilities

• Lead Quality across QA, QC, QE, Supplier Quality, QMS with a factory-floor focus.
• Drive improvements in incoming, in-process, and final inspection and disposition.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Production and suppliers to resolve quality issues.
• Lead Repairs & Overhauls (R&O) function through completion and close-out.
• Maintain AS9100 readiness and drive continuous manufacturing improvements.

Skills

Quality leadership

AS9100 Rev D

NCMR/MRB

Root cause analysis

Supplier quality management

Final inspection

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering/Quality Engineering/Manufacturing Technology

Job description

Join a long-established aerospace and defense manufacturer with over 80 years of proven performance supporting critical commercial, military, and space programs worldwide. The organization is a trusted supplier of advanced ducting systems and precision-engineered components used on some of the most demanding aviation and defense platforms.

You’ll step into a high-accountability Director of Quality role reporting directly to the CEO & President. You’ll lead Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality, and the QMS interface, with a strong focus on in-process, incoming, and final inspection, NCMR/MRB, scrap reduction, supplier quality, corrective action, and day-to-day production support.

Why This Role?

• Competitive Compensation: Base salary + 10% annual bonus target, providing a strong compensation package for an experienced aerospace quality leader.
• Strong Culture, Benefits & Onsite Amenities: Work for an organization focused on taking care of its people, with an onsite cafeteria and competitive benefits including medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA options, 401(k) with company match, PTO, paid holidays, and sick leave.
• Career Growth & Veteran-Friendly Culture: Join an organization experiencing significant growth with opportunities to expand your leadership impact, while working in a veteran-friendly environment that values military experience, leadership, and technical expertise.
• Major Space Projects: Approximately $250 million in space projects are currently underway, providing strong visibility into future business and continued demand.
• Trusted Aerospace Supplier: Work with advanced commercial, military, and space applications.
• Diverse Aerospace Programs: Gain exposure to commercial aviation, military aviation, and growing space programs, creating a technically challenging and diversified manufacturing environment.
• Executive-Level Visibility: Report directly to the CEO & President and serve as a core member of the senior leadership team, giving you significant influence across the organization.
• Hands-On Quality Leadership: This is a factory-focused quality leadership role, where you will directly influence incoming, in-process, and final inspection, NCMR/MRB, supplier quality, corrective action, and scrap reduction.
• Broad Technical Environment: Work across metal fabrication, welding, NDT, machining, grinding, honing, broaching, and electro-mechanical assembly while partnering with Engineering, Operations, Production, and Supply Chain.
• High-Impact Quality & Supplier Leadership: Lead initiatives addressing scrap, customer complaints, incoming material rejections, production quality, supplier performance, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• AS9100 & Continuous Improvement: Apply practical AS9100 Rev. D experience while driving zero-defect quality planning, process improvement, audit readiness, and measurable manufacturing improvements.
• Strong People-Focused Culture: Join a company with a strong focus on taking care of its people, a veteran-friendly environment, onsite cafeteria, and opportunities to build a long-term career.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the Quality organization across Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality, QMS, and Test, with a primary focus on factory-floor execution.
• Drive improvements in incoming, in-process, and final inspection, NCMR/MRB review and disposition, scrap reduction, customer complaints, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Production, and suppliers to resolve quality issues and ensure customer requirements are effectively translated to the manufacturing floor.
• Lead the Repairs & Overhauls (R&O) function through completion, customer commitments, tooling/equipment disposition, and orderly close-out.
• Develop and lead the Quality organization while maintaining AS9100 readiness, supplier performance, customer satisfaction, and overall manufacturing quality.

What You Bring:

• 10+ years of quality experience in a low-to-medium volume precision production manufacturing environment, with the majority of your career spent running quality operations on the factory floor.
• Strong aerospace manufacturing background with experience supporting machining and assembly of precision components.
• Demonstrated Director-level or senior management experience leading quality within a manufacturing plant.
• Must-have technical depth in NCMR/MRB review and disposition, incoming/in-process/final inspection, supplier quality management, root cause analysis, corrective action, and scrap reduction.
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related field. Practical AS9100 Rev. D QMS experience is essential.