Quality Assurance Manager - Aerospace QMS

Kids for the Future; Town of Lancaster (NY); On-site; USD 118,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kids for the Future seeks a hands-on QA Manager to guide AS9100 QMS and Quality Engineering within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will lead the internal audit program, maintain and improve procedures, and drive corrective actions while mentoring the Quality team.

The role emphasizes production and administrative process quality, supplier quality, risk management, and customer requirement compliance in an AS9100-certified setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical field.
• 7+ years of Quality experience in manufacturing or production environments.
• 3+ years in a leadership, supervisory, or team-development quality role.
• Strong practical experience working within AS9100 requirements.
• Experience leading or heavily supporting audits, RCCA, nonconformance management, supplier quality, and customer quality activities.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of inspection methods, production quality controls, corrective action, and process-based quality management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the internal audit program and support external, customer, and certification audits
• Support audit planning, audit readiness, audit response, and closure of audit findings
• Maintain and improve procedures, work instructions, forms, and system documentation
• Ensure QMS documentation supports practical execution, not just compliance
• Ensure effective implementation of corrective and preventive actions
• Identify systemic QMS weaknesses and lead practical improvements to strengthen process control and audit readiness
• Mentor, and develop Quality Engineers and Quality Technicians
• Establish Quality Engineering priorities aligned with customer requirements, production needs, quality risks, and business objectives
• Support Process Owners in developing, maintaining, and improving effective process controls
• Support investigations into internal nonconformances, customer reported problems, supplier issues, and process failures
• Drive structured root cause analysis, containment, corrective action, and recurrence prevention
• Partner with Process Owners to improve quality outcomes
• Help reduce reliance on inspection by strengthening process discipline and defect prevention
• Serve as a primary Quality contact during customer visits, audits, and quality discussions
• Interface directly with customers to resolve quality issues professionally and effectively
• Support customer requirement review, identification, communication, and implementation as related to quality system and production controls
• Lead or support customer corrective action responses, containment actions, and effectiveness reviews
• Oversee supplier quality performance and supplier corrective action activities
• Support risk-based supplier evaluation, monitoring, and escalation processes
• Work with all supporting functions to address customer & supplier-related quality issues and prevent recurrence

Skills

Quality leadership

Audits

AS9100

Nonconformance management

Supplier quality

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Quality

Job description

• Location 4400 WALDEN AVE,Lancaster, NY, 14086-9751,United States
• Base Pay $118,000.00 - $130,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Quality Assurance, Management, Manufacturing
• Employee Type Exempt - FT
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

Contact information

• Name Human Resources
• Phone [phone]

Description

We’re looking for a hands-on QA Manager to guide both our AS9100 Quality Management System and Quality Engineering function within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is a manufacturing quality leadership role responsible for ensuring compliance, improving operational quality performance, mentoring the Quality team, and strengthening cross-functional execution. The QA Manager will not only maintain the system, but improve it, while also supporting practical, quality initiatives that deliver measurable results.

This is not a software QA role. The focus is on production and administrative processes, audits, inspections, supplier quality, risk management, corrective action, continuous improvement, and customer requirement compliance within an AS9100-certified environment.

Summary

What You Will Do

Quality Management System Leadership

• Lead the internal audit program and support external, customer, and certification audits
• Support audit planning, audit readiness, audit response, and closure of audit findings
• Maintain and improve procedures, work instructions, forms, and system documentation
• Ensure QMS documentation supports practical execution, not just compliance
• Ensure effective implementation of corrective and preventive actions
• Identify systemic QMS weaknesses and lead practical improvements to strengthen process control and audit readiness

Quality Engineering & Operational Leadership

• Mentor, and develop Quality Engineers and Quality Technicians
• Establish Quality Engineering priorities aligned with customer requirements, production needs, quality risks, and business objectives
• Support Process Owners in developing, maintaining, and improving effective process controls
• Support investigations into internal nonconformances, customer reported problems, supplier issues, and process failures
• Drive structured root cause analysis, containment, corrective action, and recurrence prevention
• Partner with Process Owners to improve quality outcomes
• Help reduce reliance on inspection by strengthening process discipline and defect prevention
• Serve as a primary Quality contact during customer visits, audits, and quality discussions
• Interface directly with customers to resolve quality issues professionally and effectively
• Support customer requirement review, identification, communication, and implementation as related to quality system and production controls
• Lead or support customer corrective action responses, containment actions, and effectiveness reviews
• Oversee supplier quality performance and supplier corrective action activities
• Support risk-based supplier evaluation, monitoring, and escalation processes
• Work with all supporting functions to address customer & supplier-related quality issues and prevent recurrence

Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Develop and strengthen the Quality Engineering and Quality support team
• Build capability in audit support, root cause analysis, risk assessment, customer requirement compliance, and process improvement
• Balance compliance discipline with operational practicality
• Build cross-functional alignment around quality objectives, customer expectations, and process performance
• Challenge corrective actions, ineffective process controls, and recurring nonconformance patterns
• Communicate quality risks clearly, including customer impact, business impact, containment expectations, and recommended actions
• Drive measurable improvements in defect reduction, escape prevention, audit performance, supplier quality, and process stability
• Contribute to strategic quality planning in partnership with the Quality Director
• Support planned Quality leadership continuity by assuming increasing responsibility for selected QMS, audit, customer, and Quality Engineering activities over time
• This role is designed for a quality professional who wants to lead people, systems, and performance — not just maintain documentation.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical field
• 7+ years of Quality experience in manufacturing or production environments
• 3+ years in a leadership, supervisory, or team-development quality role
• Strong practical experience working within AS9100 requirements
• Experience leading or heavily supporting audits, RCCA, nonconformance management, supplier quality, and customer quality activities
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and technical documentation
• Strong understanding of inspection methods, production quality controls, corrective action, and process-based quality management
• Ability to work effectively with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Inspection, and Senior Leadership
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain quality issues clearly and drive accountability without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

Preferred:

• Experience supporting or serving in a Management Representative or similar QMS leadership role
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or similar ISO based manufacturing environments
• Experience in high-mix, make-to-print manufacturing environments
• Proven success developing and mentoring Quality Engineers, Quality Technicians, or inspection personnel
• Strong data analysis and risk assessment capabilities
• Experience supporting customer audits, certification audits, and supplier quality improvement
• ASQ certifications such as CQE, CQA, CMQ/OE, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience improving QMS effectiveness, audit readiness, corrective action quality, supplier performance, and operational quality metrics

Salary ranges for this position are determined based upon the job location and can be adjusted based upon experience, reflecting our commitment to valuing the expertise and contributions of our individual team members.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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