Quality Manager

Karman Space & Defense; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

HSA contribution

FSA

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense seeks a senior Quality Management lead to own and continuously improve the AS9100‑certified QMS at our Albany, Oregon site. You will direct quality assurance, quality engineering, and compliance while partnering with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and programs teams to ensure product quality and mission reliability.

You will drive internal audits, supplier quality management, and regulatory compliance, with hands-on involvement in a small‑company environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, quality, manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of quality experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ownership of an AS9100-certified QMS, including audit leadership.
• Willingness to perform hands-on work in a small-company environment.
• Strong communication skills with executives, engineers, and technicians.

Responsibilities

• Owns, maintains, and improves the AS9100-certified Quality Management System.
• Ensures compliance with customer, contractual, and regulatory quality requirements.
• Leads internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and document control.
• Serves as the primary interface for third-party, customer, and government audits.
• Partners with Engineering on design reviews, risk management, configuration control, and change management.
• Oversees First Article Inspection (AS9102), nonconformance management, MRB activities, and root cause corrective actions.
• Supports manufacturing with process control, inspection effectiveness, and production readiness.
• Manages supplier quality activities including flow-down requirements, qualification, performance monitoring, and corrective actions.

Skills

Quality leadership

Audits

Process control

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

CMM programming

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

In this role, you serve as the senior authority for the Quality Management System (QMS) at a single-site, AS9100‑certified defense manufacturing facility. You lead quality assurance, quality engineering, and compliance activities while partnering closely with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program teams. You provide strategic direction and hands‑on support to ensure process control, product quality, mission reliability, and full compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Owns, maintains, and continuously improves the AS9100‑certified Quality Management System.
• Ensures compliance with customer, contractual, and regulatory quality requirements.
• Leads internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and document control activities.
• Serves as the primary interface for third‑party, customer, and government audits.
• Partners with Engineering on design reviews, risk management, configuration control, and change management.
• Oversees First Article Inspection (AS9102), nonconformance management, Material Review Board (MRB) activities, and root cause corrective actions.
• Supports manufacturing with process control, inspection effectiveness, and production readiness.
• Manages supplier quality activities including flow‑down requirements, qualification, performance monitoring, and corrective actions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, quality, manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 5 + years of quality experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ownership of an AS9100‑certified Quality Management System, including audit leadership.
• Ability and willingness to perform hands‑on work in a small‑company environment.
• Strong communication skills with executives, engineers, and technicians.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Preferred Qualifications

• CMM programming experience

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short‑and long‑term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.