Quality Manager - Aerospace and Defense

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading and maintaining the site’s Quality Management System (QMS) in alignment with the standards set by AS9100D and the requirements of our customers and the optics manufacturing industry. This role oversees all quality assurance functions, including management review, calibration, CAPA, NCR processing, and audit readiness. The Quality Manager chairs the Material Review Board (MRB) and Corrective Action Board (CAB), ensuring disciplined root-cause analysis, effective corrective actions, and the timely delivery of quality metrics.

A key partner to both internal teams and external suppliers, the Quality Manager ensures high incoming product quality, manages internal and supplier audits, and drives continuous improvement across policies, procedures, and organizational processes. The role requires strong application of quality improvement methodologies—including 5 Why, 8D, Fishbone, Poka-Yoke, NPI, and FMEA—to enhance product reliability and manufacturing performance.

The Quality Manager leads the Inspection and Quality Engineering teams, ensuring customer requirements are clearly defined, consistently met, and effectively flowed down throughout the organization. This position, which is on-site and based in Murrieta, CA, plays a critical role in supporting the production of precision optical components and assemblies for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the quality engineering organization, managing and developing a team of quality engineers assigned to high-volume programs producing precision optical components and assemblies.
• Lead the Inspection group, by managing and developing a team of QA professionals in a high-intensity and fast-paced work environment.
• Work cross-functionally with operations and program management to ensure the teams are appropriately staffed and trained to support the required workload.
• Work with other Quality Managers across the organization to ensure the QMS is maintained properly and in accordance with AS9100D.
• Lead cross-functional CAPA efforts for internal and external customers.
• Coordinate and lead internal audits as required.
• Engage and collaborate with supply chain and operations leadership to ensure the suppliers are properly vetted, routinely audited and evaluated and ensure contractual quality requirements are being met.
• Review customer requirements and quality notes during RFQ/RFP phases to determine feasibility and compliance, assess risk, and estimate level of effort required for the quality department.
• Act as the primary interface with Government representatives (DCMAO) and customer source inspection personnel. Coordinates government and customer source inspections and Quality system surveys

Education & Experience

• Minimum 8+ years of experience in one or more branches of Quality Assurance including Optical Quality Inspection, Testing, and Process Improvement in the Optics or Aerospace & Defense industry.
• At least 3+ years of direct supervisory experience is required. Experience should also include leadership in sustaining an AS9100D quality system.
• Bachelor’s degree in quality technology, engineering, mathematics, the basic sciences or related fields from a college or university with accreditation.
• ASQC Quality Management Certification
• Ideally, some background in optical fabrication and/or optical coating technologies.
• Experience with low-to-medium volume, high-value, build-to-print manufacturing.
• Experience developing Cost of Quality reporting and improvement tools.

Skills & Other Requirements

• Proven ability to lead a quality organization in a precision manufacturing environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to Lead Management Review meetings with key business stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of military and quality specifications such as Mil- Specs, ANSI etc.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact with customers, suppliers and all levels of the Business Unit.
• Strong interpersonal, team, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with optical materials and materials growth processes is preferred.
• Effective communicator capable of presenting technical information to internal and external stakeholders.

Working Conditions

Standard office and light manufacturing environment.

Physical Requirements

Standard professional office and manufacturing-area duties.

Safety Responsibilities

• Follow all EHS procedures and standards; use PPE as required.
• Ensure team compliance with safety and environmental requirements, including risk assessments and proper work instructions.

Quality & Environmental Responsibilities

Supports adherence to AS9100D and ISO 9001and applicable quality/environmental standards.