Unit Manager, Quality

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc; Peterborough (NH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is seeking a senior Quality Assurance/Control leader to oversee all QA/QC activities within a manufacturing unit in Peterborough, NH.

You will ensure compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, FAA, and customer requirements while guiding cross-functional teams toward a zero-defect culture. You will maintain the QMS, lead audits, manage nonconformances, and drive continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, FMEA, and SPC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field.
• ASQ CQE/CQA or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification.
• Experience in aerospace/defense quality management with supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, NADCAP and GD&T.
• Experience with audits and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve the unit's QMS in line with ISO 9001/AS9100/NADCAP.
• Lead internal, customer and regulatory audits (FAA, EASA) and close corrective actions.
• Oversee nonconformance investigations and MRB activities; implement RCCA.
• Oversee inspection and testing of incoming materials, in-process production, and final products.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, FMEA, and SPC.
• Maintain quality documentation and traceability.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and supply chain to ensure quality across departments.
• Support supplier quality management and corrective actions.
• Report KPIs to management using data-driven problem-solving.

Skills

Quality leadership

Regulatory knowledge

GD&T expertise

Quality tools

Data-driven solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering/Quality

ASQ CQE/CQA or Six Sigma Belt

Tools

ERP/QMS software

Job description

Responsible for leading all quality assurance and control activities within a designated manufacturing unit. This role ensures strict compliance with aerospace industry regulations (e.g., AS9100, NADCAP, FAA) and customer-specific requirements, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and a zero-defect culture.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management System (QMS) Maintenance:Implement and maintain the unit's QMS in alignment with standards such as ISO 9001, AS9100, and NADCAP.
• Compliance and Auditing:Lead and coordinate internal, customer, and regulatory audits (e.g., FAA, EASA) and ensure the timely closure of corrective actions.
• Nonconformance Management:Oversee nonconformance investigations, Material Review Board (MRB) activities, and the implementation of robust Root Cause Corrective Actions (RCCA).
• Inspection and Testing:Manage and provide technical guidance to quality technicians and inspectors, overseeing the inspection of incoming materials, in-process production, and final products to ensure conformance to drawings and specifications.
• Continuous Improvement:Promote and lead continuous improvement initiatives using quality methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, FMEA, and SPC to reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
• Documentation and Traceability:Maintain meticulous quality documentation, inspection records, and ensure full product traceability for all manufacturing processes.
• Collaboration and Leadership:Collaborate effectively with engineering, production, and supply chain teams to integrate quality requirements, resolve issues, and ensure quality compliance across departments.
• Supplier Quality:Support supplier quality management activities, including supplier assessments and corrective actions for non-conforming materials.
• Reporting:Monitor, analyze, and report on key quality performance indicators (KPIs) to unit and senior management, using data-driven problem-solving to improve performance.

Job Skills & Abilities

• Thorough working knowledge ofAS9100, ISO 9001, AS9102 (FAI), and NADCAP
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA).
• Expertise in GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
• Proficiency with quality tools and methodologies (Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, SPC, APQP) and experience with ERP/QMS software systems.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities with attention to detail.
• A commitment to fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical field is typically required.
• ASQ certifications (CQE, CQA) or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification.
• Relevant experience in quality management within an aerospace or defense manufacturing environment, including supervisory experience.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to access all production and office areas of NHBB facilities.
• Must be able to travel occasionally, as required (<5%)

WORK AUTHORIZATION: Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or have asylum or refugee status in the U.S. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

#NHB123

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is a leading manufacturer of precision bearings and complex bearing assemblies for the aerospace, defense, medical, dental, and high technology markets. Founded in Peterborough, NH in 1946, our almost 8 decades of success are rooted in our commitment to the safety, health and wellness of our employees, and partnerships with our customers, suppliers and the communities that surround us.