Senior Director Quality

Job ID: 113360

DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. 

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Quality is responsible for establishing and leading an organization-wide quality strategy that ensures excellence in products, services, processes, and customer experience. This role goes beyond traditional manufacturing or production-floor quality to embed quality principles into every function—including operations, engineering, supply chain, customer service, IT, HR, and corporate processes.

The Senior Director partners closely with executive leadership to drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational efficiency, risk reduction, and data-driven decision-making across the entire enterprise.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a holistic quality vision and strategy that spans all departments and functions.
• Lead and shape the Quality organization to drive innovation and continuous improvement, reducing reliance on traditional inspection while delivering value to customers and the business unit.
• Establish enterprise-wide quality standards, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Lead the evolution of quality from a compliance-driven activity to a proactive, strategic business enabler.
• Direct all quality systems and operations, ensuring alignment with strategic and regulatory requirements (ISO 9001, AS9100, and other relevant standards).
• Plan and oversee quality control throughout all product life cycle stages, including customer requirements review, design verification and validation, design reviews, transition from development to production, production process validation, and implementation of manufacturing quality control plans.
• Maintain the company’s quality certifications: conduct internal audits and prepare for, support, and accompany second‑party (customer) and third‑party (certification body) audits.
• Manage utilization of equipment, facilities, and personnel to maximize efficiency and meet performance objectives; maintain authority over QA budgets and scheduling.
• Champion and control significant quality projects and improvement initiatives; develop measurement systems and use data (trending, tracking, statistical analysis) to guide decisions.
• Oversee document control and configuration management; ensure QA plan execution and timely management of deviations, CAPA, and preventive actions.
• Coordinate reliability activities (reliability prediction, FMEA/FMECA, testing, failure analysis, FRACAS) and initiate corrective and improvement actions.
• Lead supplier and subcontractor quality management: qualification, audits, failure investigations, corrective actions, and continuous supplier improvement.
• Establish enterprise-wide quality dashboards, OKRs, and real-time data systems.
• Direct, monitor, and appraise staff performance; identify training needs and lead development programs; recommend/approve staffing and compensation changes for the QA organization.
• Advise executive leadership (VP / GM) on compliance status, audit findings, and system-wide implications; maintain internal communications about compliance and regulatory changes.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets for the QA function and ensure resources support quality objectives and productivity goals.
• Foster a culture of quality, integrity, and alignment with company mission and values

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience in a related technical field
• A minimum of 15 years of experience
• Solid understanding and background in comprehensive manufacturing processes, including mechanical production, PCB assembly, final assembly, and testing.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, communication and writing skills
• Ability to lead effective corrective action using disciplined problem-solving methods and statistical analysis
• In-depth knowledge of AS9100 & ISO 9001 Standards
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification desired
• ASQ CMQ/OE certification desired

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $164,077/year - $254,728/year.This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay sc