Director, Global Quality Engineering & Control

Worker Type

Job Description

 

Summary

The Director, Global Quality Engineering and Control is responsible for defining, standardizing, and governing the practices, tools, and metrics used across the organization’s Quality Engineering and Quality Control functions. In a non-centralized structure, Quality Engineers and Inspectors are embedded within individual business units and do not report directly to this role. However, this leader is accountable for ensuring consistent approaches, effective training, and measurable performance across those distributed teams. The role partners closely with Business Unit Quality leaders, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to drive a harmonized approach to product quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Position Responsibilities

Governance & Standards

• Develop, deploy, and maintain company-wide processes and best practices for Quality Engineering, Quality Control, and Continuous Improvement.

• Establish standard approaches for DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans, inspections, verification/validation, nonconformance handling, and root cause analysis.

• Ensure alignment of business unit practices with corporate BMS and regulatory/industry standards.

Training & Capability Development

• Define the training strategy and curricula for Quality Engineers and Inspectors embedded across business units.

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing forums to raise the competency and effectiveness of distributed quality personnel.

• Partner with HR/Learning to ensure career development pathways for Quality roles.

Metrics & Performance Management

• Define and implement key quality metrics (e.g., defect rates, yield, inspection effectiveness, process capability, CoPQ).

• Monitor, consolidate, and report performance across business units, highlighting trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.

• Drive accountability for corrective and preventive actions by ensuring business units act on metric outcomes.

Collaboration & Influence

• Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic partner to Business Unit Quality Leaders.

• Facilitate cross-BU alignment by leading Quality and Mission Assurance communities of practice, working groups, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure that quality standards are designed into processes and products.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure that all embedded Quality teams operate in compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100, or other relevant standards.

• Lead initiatives to close systemic gaps identified through audits, assessments, and metric performance.

• Champion a culture of defect prevention, risk management, and operational excellence across the enterprise.

• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree is required in Engineering, Quality, or in a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• Advanced degree, MBA or MS is highly preferred.

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience required; specifically, in quality, mission assurance, or regulatory compliance within the defense, aerospace, or high-reliability manufacturing environment.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role.

• Expertise in AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, CMMI, and defense quality standards.

• Strong background in QMS implementation, supplier quality management, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Proven leadership experience managing quality teams and cross-functional initiatives.

• Experience with government contracts, DoD requirements, and working with regulatory agencies.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

• Deep expertise in quality engineering principles (DFMEA,PFMEA, PPAP/APQP, SPC, GD&T, MSA, etc.).

• Knowledge of BMS frameworks (ISO 9001, AS9100, or industry equivalent).

• Proficiency with quality tools/software (e.g., Minitab, SPC/QMS platforms, PLM, ERP systems).

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Preferred Certifications: ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM); Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt; Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified