Quality Director, Accessories & SUV Programs

Slate; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 185,000 - 309,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity program

Discretionary annual incentive

Job summary

Slate seeks a senior quality leader to own AIAG‑VDA quality standards for Accessories and SUV programs, spanning DFMEA to PPAP readiness and launch. You will build and mentor PQEs and SQEs across a broad supplier base, driving quality metrics and risk reporting to executives.

The role demands hands‑on leadership, PPAP submission reviews, and escalation of supplier issues while defining gates and standards for all accessory systems and SUV platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in automotive quality engineering; at least 4 years in a leadership role spanning Program Quality or Supplier Quality.
• Deep expertise across APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949, FMEA (AIAG-VDA 2019), DVP&R, control plans, MSA, and SPC.
• Proven ability to lead both program quality and supplier quality functions simultaneously.
• Experience across accessory commodities and EV integration challenges.
• Strong track record managing distressed suppliers and driving quality recovery in fast launches.

Responsibilities

• Lead PQEs and SQEs aligned to Accessories and SUV programs and commodity segments.
• Define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations across Program Quality and Supplier Quality.
• Establish consistent work practices, reporting cadences, and accountability structures.
• Drive APQP/PPAP readiness and PPAP submission activities with suppliers.
• Manage supplier audits, risk profiling, and supplier quality KPIs.
• Own quality systems, gates, and CSQ processes across APQP phases.
• Report top risks and KPIs to executive leadership; escalate as needed.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Purchasing, and Quality leaders to ensure launch readiness.

Skills

APQP & PPAP

FMEA AIAG-VDA 2019

DVP&R

IATF 16949

Quality leadership

Supplier quality management

Cross-functional leadership

DFMEA

Risk assessment

eQMS platforms

Polarion

Windchill

PPAPQuest

AuditQuest

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Manufacturing

Tools

IntellaQuest eQMS

Polarion

Windchill

PPAPQuest

AuditQuest

Job description

Slate seeks a senior quality leader to own AIAG‑VDA quality standards for Accessories and SUV programs, spanning DFMEA to PPAP readiness and launch. You will build and mentor PQEs and SQEs across a broad supplier base, driving quality metrics and risk reporting to executives.

The role demands hands‑on leadership, PPAP submission reviews, and escalation of supplier issues while defining gates and standards for all accessory systems and SUV platforms.