Quality Assurance Manager

Thales Aerospace Communications; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales Aerospace Communications in Cape Town seeks a QA Manager to ensure aviation product quality by maintaining an effective QMS and acting as the primary interface with regulators.

You will lead the quality team, drive audits (EASA/FAA), certify product release, and collaborate with customers to uphold safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• BSc or BTech in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with Quality Certification.
• Practical experience designing, evaluating and managing a QMS.
• 5+ years’ experience in design, manufacturing and/or maintenance organisations.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to provide quality insight and write professional factual reports.
• Knowledge of Civil Aviation Regulations and aviation standards is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an up-to-date QMS manual as the body of knowledge to ensure an effective quality management system
• Maintain QMS effectiveness despite continuing change
• Conduct QMS and products related audits to ensure conformity
• Requesting action in any processes/ areas found to be non-conforming and perform follow-up to ensure effective corrections have been made and thus maintaining and improving product quality
• Communicate with internal and external customers & clients through written & verbal communication channels and provide quality related data to stakeholders as required
• Ensure customer complaints are investigated
• Facilitate external quality audits. These include AS9100 third party audits and Civil Aviation Authority audits
• Report on key findings & identify potential risks
• Perform FAA delegated inspections as required by customers
• Certify product release
• Monitor Civil Aviation Authority Regulations and Directives
• Provide a system of recall, calibration and repair of instruments and continuously improve the level of calibration assistance by reduction of down time
• Manage the quality team through engagement, personal development & performance managementExploring opportunities to add value to the Site.

Skills

Quality Management

Audit & Compliance

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Data-driven decision making

Education

BSc or BTech in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with Quality Certification

Job description

This position is part of the Thales AEC succession planning process. The successful applicant will join the company as soon as possible and work alongside the current QA Manager. Official ownership will take place by no later than August 2027.

Overall Job Function

The QA Manager assures consistent good quality of aviation product design, production and maintenance, by developing and maintaining an effective quality management system.

The QA Manager is the key interface for communication with regulatory bodies and other internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Customers, EASA, OSAC etc.) regarding quality matters.

Responsibility for the delivery of EASA certification for part 21J (Design approval holder), part 21G (production approval holder) and part 21O or part 145 (maintenance approval holder).

Job Responsibilities

• Maintain an up-to-date QMS manual as the body of knowledge to ensure an effective quality management system
• Maintain QMS effectiveness despite continuing change
• Conduct QMS and products related audits to ensure conformity
• Requesting action in any processes/ areas found to be non-conforming and perform follow-up to ensure effective corrections have been made and thus maintaining and improving product quality
• Communicate with internal and external customers & clients through written & verbal communication channels and provide quality related data to stakeholders as required
• Ensure customer complaints are investigated
• Facilitate external quality audits. These include AS9100 third party audits and Civil Aviation Authority audits
• Report on key findings & identify potential risks
• Perform FAA delegated inspections as required by customers
• Certify product release
• Monitor Civil Aviation Authority Regulations and Directives
• Provide a system of recall, calibration and repair of instruments and continuously improve the level of calibration assistance by reduction of down time
• Manage the quality team through engagement, personal development & performance managementExploring opportunities to add value to the Site.

Job Requirements

• BSc or BTech in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with Quality Certification
• Practical experience in designing, evaluating and managing a Quality Management System (QMS)
• 5+ years’ experience in design, manufacturing and/or maintenance organizations
• Strong decision-making skills
• Strong inter personal and communication skills (verbal & written) in dealing with Internal and External stakeholders
• Ability to provide quality insight and write professional factual reports
• Promote a data driven decision making culture
• The following will be advantageous:
• Knowledgeable with the Civil Aviation Regulations
• Prior experience in dealing with major aviation customers
• Experience and exposure to airworthiness standards
• Experience with EASA and FAA aviation regulations
• Prior AS9100 experience
• Database manipulations for statistical analysis purposes

Affirmative Action and/or EE candidates will be given first preference as per our employment equity strategies.

Only shortlisted candidates will be corresponded with