Quality Manager (Aerospace)

Element Materials Technology; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Element Materials Technology seeks an experienced Aerospace Quality Manager to lead the QMS, ensuring compliance with AS9100 and FAA requirements while driving supplier quality, CAPA, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role partners with Engineering, Operations, and Manufacturing to deliver high-quality, reliable aerospace products.

You will manage a team of Quality Engineers, Inspectors, and Document Control personnel, establish KPIs, and lead internal and external audits, including

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field.
• 8+ years of quality experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing quality teams.
• Experience with AS9102, ISO 9001, and FAA regulations.
• Experience in precision machining, assembly, composites, or aerospace manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T and blueprint interpretation.
• Experience with SPC and MSA.
• Familiarity with ERP and Quality Management Systems.
• Proven success leading customer and regulatory audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the AS9100-certified QMS.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, customer, military, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage Quality Engineers, Inspectors, Supplier Quality Engineers, and Document Control personnel.
• Establish quality objectives, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Oversee CAPA processes using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, PFMEA.
• Oversee FAI activities per AS9102.
• Review and disposition nonconforming material through MRB.
• Develop supplier quality strategies including audits, supplier scorecards, corrective actions, and supplier development.
• Monitor COPQ and reduce scrap, rework, and warranty costs.
• Analyze quality data and present metrics to leadership.
• Support customer audits and quality investigations.
• Drive Lean and Six Sigma projects focused on defect reduction and process capability.
• Mentor and develop quality professionals.

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

Auditing

Continuous improvement

AS9100 knowledge

ISO 9001 knowledge

GD&T interpretation

SPC / MSA

ERP software

QMS software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field

Tools

ERP software

QMS software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Aerospace Quality Manager to lead our Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure compliance with aerospace industry standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations. This leader will oversee quality assurance, quality control, supplier quality, inspection, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives while fostering a culture of operational excellence.

The successful candidate will partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to deliver products that consistently meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the organization's AS9100-certified Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, customer, military, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage Quality Engineers, Quality Inspectors, Supplier Quality Engineers, and Document Control personnel.
• Establish quality objectives, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits.
• Manage corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) using structured root cause methodologies including:
• 8D
• 5 Why
• Fishbone Analysis
• PFMEA
• Oversee First Article Inspection (FAI) activities in accordance with AS9102.
• Ensure compliance with product inspection requirements including:
• Receiving Inspection
• In-Process Inspection
• Final Inspection
• Review and disposition nonconforming material through the Material Review Board (MRB) process.
• Develop supplier quality strategies including audits, supplier scorecards, corrective actions, and supplier development.
• Monitor Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) and implement initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, and warranty costs.
• Analyze quality data and present performance metrics to executive leadership.
• Support customer audits and quality investigations.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma projects focused on defect reduction and process capability.
• Mentor and develop quality professionals while building a high-performance quality culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field.
• 8+ years of quality experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing quality teams.
• Extensive knowledge of:
• AS9102
• ISO 9001
• FAA regulations
• NADCAP (preferred)
• Experience with precision machining, assembly, composites, or aerospace manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T and blueprint interpretation.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC) and measurement system analysis (MSA).
• Familiarity with ERP and Quality Management Systems.
• Proven success leading customer and regulatory audits.