Quality Assurance Lead - Ground Support Equipment (Onsite)

RTX (Raytheon); Rainbow (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

3 weeks vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Windsor Locks, CT, is seeking a GSE Quality Assurance Lead to ensure quality, compliance, and reliability of ground support equipment for military and commercial customers. Lead a team, manage the QMS, and drive improvements across the product lifecycle.

You will partner with internal engineering, procurement, and operations while supporting external audits and customer quality expectations. Travel up to 30% is required for this role.

Qualifications

• University degree and 5+ years of QA experience.
• Experience in quality systems within aerospace/defense.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Lead the GSE Quality team with daily direction and coaching.
• Maintain ISO 9001 QMS and drive continuous improvement.
• Act as primary quality rep for customers and audits.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and operations to meet quality requirements.
• Lead supplier audits, source inspections, and CAPA activities.
• Manage internal audit program and quality reporting.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Supplier Quality

Quality Engineering

Auditing

Leadership

Lean

Education

University Degree

Advanced Degree

Tools

ISO 9001

AS9100

Lead Auditor

Job description

Country: United States of America

Location: US-CT-WINDSOR LOCKS-B1 ~ 1 Hamilton Rd ~ BLDG 1

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status: Not Required

At Collins Aerospace, we’re solving some of the world’s toughest aerospace and defense challenges through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality. As the GSE Quality Assurance Lead, you’ll play a critical leadership role ensuring the quality, compliance, and reliability of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) supporting military and commercial aerospace customers around the globe.

GSE supports a wide variety of military and commercial Power & Controls products worldwide both through internal and external suppliers. Recently, GSE has expanded into Landing Systems and Cargo business units providing various test equipment and sustainment support. GSE’s key processes include quote and delivery of transactional tooling, strategic depot standup projects, test equipment, portable testers and entry into service programs. The GSE QA Lead supports all facets of these diverse processes throughout the life cycle of the project up to and including final delivery to the end customer. The GSE QA Lead is responsible for maintaining the Quality Management System (ISO 9001).

What You Will Do

• Lead and develop the GSE Quality team, providing daily direction, work assignments, coaching, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Own and maintain the GSE Quality Management System (ISO 9001), ensuring ongoing compliance and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary quality representative for customers, addressing quality concerns and driving timely resolution of issues.
• Partner with internal engineering, procurement, operations, and supplier teams to ensure quality requirements are achieved throughout the product lifecycle.
• Conduct supplier source inspections, audits, and quality validations for complex Ground Support Equipment and test systems.
• Lead supplier corrective action activities by identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, and driving sustainable improvements.
• Manage the internal audit program while supporting customer, DCMA, certification body, and other external quality audits.
• Lead quality review boards, Corrective Action Board (CAB) meetings, Management Reviews, and executive quality reporting.
• Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, quality metrics, defect trends, escapes, scrap, rework, and repair data to drive measurable improvements.
• Review and approve quality aspects of engineering drawing changes, product releases, and Engineering Change activities.
• Support customer returns, nonconformance investigations, and onsite supplier quality activities to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Champion Lean, CORE, and continuous improvement initiatives while driving enhancements to standard work, business processes, and overall operational excellence.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience
• Experience supporting Quality Assurance, Supplier Quality, or Quality Engineering within a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industry.
• Ability to travel as needed for the role - 30% anticipated.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience supporting Ground Support Equipment (GSE), aerospace tooling, test equipment, sustainment, or aftermarket programs.
• Experience performing supplier audits, source inspections, or supplier quality management activities.
• Knowledge of DCMA requirements and customer quality expectations within the aerospace and defense industry.
• Certified Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor for ISO 9001 or AS9100.
• Experience with Lean, CORE, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
• Adoption Assistance
• Autism Benefit
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
• Brigh