Project Manager, Quality & Transformation

Prestwick Aerosystems; Bingen (WA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Flexrotor is seeking a strategic Project Manager in the Quality and Transformation team to scale and mature our unmanned aviation business. The role focuses on implementing a customer-centric QMS and BMS, driving efficiency while avoiding bureaucratic slowdowns.

The ideal candidate will bring 8+ years in quality/engineering, knowledge of QMS, and experience with AS9100/ISO9001, plus PM credentials. Travel up to 10% and US ITAR eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in quality/manufacturing/auditing or business improvement.
• Working knowledge of Business Management Systems or Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Experience with AS9100 or ISO9001 quality systems preferred.
• Lean Six‑Sigma Black Belt and PM qualifications are a plus.
• Proficiency in French, German or Spanish.
• US Person under ITAR; 10% travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead QMS and BMS implementation across the organization.
• Define, map, document, standardize and optimize end-to-end business processes.
• Drive change management to promote efficient, compliant operations.

Skills

Quality engineering

Manufacturing engineering

Auditing

Business improvement

Project Management

Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt

AS9100/ISO9001 knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing/industrial engineering, business admin, quality management or equivalent

Job description

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at [e-mail] Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (English) Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish)

Job Description

Are you a strategic quality professional with the business acumen to scale a fast-moving business? Airbus Flexrotor is seeking a dynamic Project Manager within our Quality and Transformation department to play a pivotal role in standardizing, maturing, and shaping the future of our unmanned aviation business. This isn't about enforcing heavy, rigid bureaucracy. We are looking for an agile change agent—someone who can leverage a solid quality engineering foundation to implement an elegant, customer-centric Quality Management System (QMS) and Business Management System (BMS) that drives efficiency without slowing us down.

Meet the Team

The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.

Your Working Environment

Nestled in the heart of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge in Bingen, WA, our workplace offers innovation and the ability to contribute to game-changing solutions while enjoying the flexibility to spread your wings. Whether it's solving complex challenges, or celebrating victories, you’ll be part of a cohesive crew that thrives on innovation and the beauty that the Northwest has to offer!

How We Care for You

Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.

Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.

Your Challenges

Lead QMS and BMS implementation: 35% System Design and Deployment: Define and improve quality processes alongside the core quality team at Airbus Flexrotor. Define a simplified BMS framework that is customer-centric for the entire company. Minimize complexity and ensure cohesion between departmental processes. Collaborate with cross-functional department heads to map, document, standardize and optimize end-to‑end business processes. Support with governance, decision making and escalation path design. Change management: Act as a change agent for process adoption across the business by spreading awareness that the right processes drive efficiency and prevent uncertainty. Support a fast-moving and adaptable organization by ensuring it is not hindered by heavy, bureaucratic processes. Drive the adoption of the BMS and QMS companywide through being the champion for change, to standardize and simplify daily operations. Measure process efficiency and drive improvements as needed.

Project management for transformation: 35% End-to‑End Project Delivery: Successfully scope, plan, and define objectives for transformation projects. Launch and manage projects within timeline and budget constraints, while consistently reporting on overall progress. Integrated Planning: Maintain accurate project plans and map interdependencies across other projects, departments, and stakeholders to drive initiatives to successful completion. Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify project risks and operational bottlenecks, developing and implementing robust contingency plans to safeguard uninterrupted business continuity.

Internal auditing and external compliance: 15% External certification management: Own the preparation and readiness strategy for the division's AS9100 certification. Strategic roadmap: Perform comprehensive gap analyses and design the execution plan for the business’s route to AS9100 certification. Internal auditing oversight: Define the overarching internal audit strategy, supporting the entire organization by reviewing process applications, highlighting opportunities for continuous improvement, and identifying systemic gaps or inefficiencies.

Regulation and customer requirements: Maintain oversight of all external regulatory and contractual customer requirements. Define and implement a robust compliance tracking system, provide clear visibility to the leadership team and define corrective actions as needed Continuous Improvement: 15% Continuous improvement: Spearhead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives that embed quality and maximize customer satisfaction across all business operations.

Airbus core values

Exemplify and uphold Airbus Core Values to cultivate an environment of success. Set the standard by welcoming challenges while maintaining integrity, commitment, courage, teamwork, customer focus, respect, and reliability. Executive intelligence: Formulate high-level performance narratives, translating complex compliance and quality data into strategic, actionable intelligence to guide the senior leadership team's business decisions.

Your Boarding Pass

Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, business administration, quality management or equivalent. Eight (8) + years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, auditing or business improvement. Working knowledge of Business Management Systems or Quality Management Systems. Preferred Education/Skills: A combination of a business related, project management and quality or engineering experience Experience with an approved quality management system such as AS9100 or ISO9001 Experience in unmanned aviation industry Master’s degree in related technical discipline Lean Six-Sigma black belt Project Management Professional qualification Proficiency in French, German or Spanish Travel Required: 10% Domestic and International Citizenship: Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license) Physical Requirements: Onsite or remote: 90% on‑site in Bingen, WA Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily. Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily. Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily. Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily. Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily. Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily. Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Daily. Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily. Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Daily. Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily. Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. 15% or less yearly. Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily. Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site Administrative position only PPE required: Steel‑toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor. Salary range based on the required profile: $102,000k to $163,000K /year. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors. This position offers the following benefits: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Prescription insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, Short and Long-term Disability insurance, 401(k), Paid time off including paid holidays, Tuition Assistance, Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria. These are our current benefit offerings for the current plan year and are subject to change without notice.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company

Aerovel Corporation Employment Type: US - Direct Hire Experience Level: Professional Remote Type: On-site Job Family: Quality Management System

EEO Statement

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail]. Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

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