Head of Quality — Multi-Site Aerospace & Defense

Leonardo DRS; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 262,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Leonardo DRS is seeking a Senior Director Quality to provide executive leadership across multiple sites, ensuring a prevention-focused QMS and compliant product realization. You will interface with customers and auditors while guiding quality systems, operations, and budgets.

You will lead audits, CAPA, and supplier quality initiatives, establish governance for product acceptance, and drive metrics such as escapes, yields, and cost of quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive quality experience in a regulated manufacturing environment; aerospace/defense experience strongly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, communication and writing skills
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100D and ISO 9001 requirements and practical implementation in manufacturing and product realization.
• Proven ability to lead effective corrective action using disciplined problem-solving methods and statistical analysis.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performance Quality organization across multiple sites.
• Own, harmonize, and improve a multi-site QMS to ensure AS9100D/ISO 9001 compliance.
• Establish clear quality governance for product acceptance and risk management.
• Lead internal audits and customer/government audits; ensure timely closure of findings.
• Ensure disciplined problem solving for nonconformances and CAPA; verify effectiveness.
• Oversee site-level processes for nonconforming product control and disposition.
• Direct quality operations supporting manufacturing and test to improve yield and reduce scrap.
• Own the Supplier Quality function and strategy; drive supplier quality improvements.
• Define quality objectives and KPIs; track performance and drive reviews.
• Ensure quality training and competency models are maintained for key roles.
• Develop and manage budgets for Quality; optimize resources.
• Maintain internal communications on quality performance and risks.

Skills

AS9100D knowledge

ISO 9001 knowledge

Leadership

Quality metrics

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Audits

Statistical analysis

Job description

Leonardo DRS is seeking a Senior Director Quality to provide executive leadership across multiple sites, ensuring a prevention-focused QMS and compliant product realization. You will interface with customers and auditors while guiding quality systems, operations, and budgets.

You will lead audits, CAPA, and supplier quality initiatives, establish governance for product acceptance, and drive metrics such as escapes, yields, and cost of quality.