Director Quality Assurance Maintenance & Engineering
Alaska Airlines
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Alaska Airlines is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance for Maintenance & Engineering to set long-term QA strategy, lead a team of leaders, and oversee audits across CAMP, SMS, and FAA compliance. You will drive risk-based planning, performance metrics, and executive reporting from Seattle.
Ideal candidates bring 8+ years of audit exposure, 5+ years of leadership, and a strong safety mindset. This full-time role offers comprehensive rewards and opportunities to shape safety standards across
Qualifications
- 8 years of experience in operational process auditing, or equivalent experience in maintenance leadership.
- 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 years directly leading people.
- Bachelor’s degree with a focus in a related discipline, or equivalent training/experience in lieu of degree.
- Strong analytical skills, process-driven, and a strong safety advocate.
- Excellent communication (verbal, written, listening) and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Responsibilities
- Set long-term strategy for QA projects and develop budget for QA initiatives.
- Establish reporting metrics and data visualizations for CAMP, Engineering oversight, and SMS.
- Develop risk-based QA surveillance plan covering internal and third-party maintenance audits.
- Coordinate with cross-divisional teams to audit results and adjust annual plans.
- Oversee QA surveillance to deliver high-confidence audit outcomes and root-cause analysis.
- Prepare formal written reports with evidence to support conclusions.
- Provide executive status updates on corrective actions and risk reduction.
- Assist SRB/ESRB by presenting audit results and trend analyses.
- Develop, modify, and oversee QA training including external auditor certifications.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.
The Director Quality Assurance (QA), Maintenance & Engineering (M&E) sets the long-term strategy and oversees the financial performance of the quality assurance program for Maintenance & Engineering at Alaska Airlines (AS). As a people leader, this role establishes strategic goals and direction for a team of leaders to:
- Assess operational performance and compliance,
- Identify and audit process risks,
- Monitor emerging risks, uphold rigorous audit standards, and drive continuous improvement and professional development.
- Set long-term strategy for the M&E QA project portfolio and develop budget for QA initiatives, driving disciplined execution within time and cost constraints while maintaining and exceeding high-quality standards and auditee confidence.
- Establish reporting metrics and data visualizations that provide feedback to the Alaska Airlines Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP), Engineering process oversight, and Safety Management System (SMS).
- Develop the long-term, risk-based QA surveillance plan to ensure coverage of all auditing requirements including:
- Alaska Airlines internal Maintenance & Engineering practices.
- Ongoing surveillance and approval of third-party maintenance providers.
- Reviews supporting the Coordinating Agency for Supplier Evaluation (C.A.S.E.) program.
- IATA Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP) assessments.
- Partner with the Managing Director (MD) Operational Audit to conduct cross-divisional organizational risk assessments, evaluate staffing levels and requirements, develop and adjust the annual audit plan(s), and recommend plan changes based on audit results and evolving business priorities.
- Oversee QA and surveillance activities to ensure consistent, high-confidence audit outcomes, rigorous root cause determination, and clear, actionable findings for senior and executive leadership, while partnering with Alaska Safety to leverage the Safety Management System (SMS) to quantify, prioritize, and mitigate operational risk.
- Review and issue formal written reports, backed by adequate evidence, to support audit conclusions.
- Provide executive-level reporting on the status, progress, and effectiveness of audit corrective actions to ensure timely, sustainable closure and risk reduction.
- Support the Safety Review Board (SRB) and Executive Safety Review Board (ESRB) by presenting summaries of audit results, root cause analysis, and trend identification.
- Develop, modify and oversee the M&E QA training plan to include: Initial Training & on-the-job (OJT) requirements, recurrent training, and, as required, specialized training for external auditor certifications (C.A.S.E., IFQP, etc.).
- Oversee relationship and serve as liaison to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on all M&E-related compliance.
- Influence and provide strategic recommendations to leadership to develop risk-based tools and techniques to strengthen operational programs, processes, and controls.
- 8 years of experience in operational process auditing, or equivalent experience in maintenance leadership.
- 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
- Bachelor’s degree with a focus in a discipline related to this role, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
- Strong analytical skills, process-driven, and a strong safety advocate.
- Excellent communication (e.g., verbal, written, and listening) and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum age of 18.
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
- Valid FAA Certification (A&P, Powerplant, or Repairman) and/or C.A.S.E. Auditor certification.
- Proven ability to quickly understand complex processes, effectively scope assessments, and lead high energy, success-oriented teams.
- Detail oriented and highly organized, with ability to multi-task and work independently with limited guidance in a fast-paced environment.
- Aviation, safety program management, or Safety Management Systems (SMS) experience.
- Auditor certification or training (e.g., Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), ISO Quality Auditor).
- Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.
- Proven ability to lead with, engage, and establish credibility with business partners at all levels.
- Ability to develop and lead a team forward in their individual development.
$172,550 - $267,450 / year
$224,315 - $347,685
The pay range and total target compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.
Note: We don't typically hire at the top of the range.
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.
- Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air with high priority status
- Select number of confirmed travel credits provided annually
- Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
- Generous 401k match program
- Annual bonus plans
- Generous holiday and paid time off
For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.
Important notification for employees working at an airport or maintenance hangar: Employees will be required to obtain a SIDA badge provided by the airport authority and maintain good standing in order to keep their SIDA badge. Review the SIDA Badge Requirements document for a comprehensive overview. If an employee does not qualify for a SIDA badge or has their SIDA badge pulled from them, the employee will be terminated.
It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.
We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.
We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”) and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”). All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.
To implement this policy, we will:
- Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories;
- Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and
- Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post-offer and/or pre-employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety-sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.
Exempt
Full-Time
Regular
Seattle - Hangar
USA-WA-SeaTac
2026-20228
Corporate & Operations
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