Quality Assurance Manager Verified today

About the Role

The Quality Assurance Manager leads site quality and mission assurance across multiple concurrent flight programs and serves as the AS9100D Management Representative for the site Quality Management System. You report to the General Manager and are based on-site in San Diego, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Own, maintain, and continually improve the site AS9100D and ISO 9001 Quality Management System, serving as the AS9100D Management Representative and sustaining certification and audit readiness.
• Serve as the primary quality authority and interface for external auditors, registrars, and customers, including NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and top-tier aerospace primes.
• Lead the Material Review Board and the nonconformance (NCR), corrective action (CAR), and supplier corrective action (SCAR) workflows, driving disciplined root cause analysis and verified corrective and preventive action on flight hardware.
• Develop and maintain program Mission Assurance and Quality Assurance Plans, and enforce space-grade workmanship standards, including IPC-A-610, J-STD-001 and its Space Addendum, and NASA-STD-8739.
• Review and approve End Item Data Packages (EIDPs) to ensure full traceability and compliance with customer and regulatory flow-down prior to shipment.
• Manage the supplier quality program, including supplier audits, source inspection, counterfeit-parts prevention (AS5553 and AS6174), GIDEP screening, and government property control under FAR 52.245-1.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the quality engineering and inspection team; allocate resources across programs and drive continuous improvement using Lean Six Sigma methods.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling, and oversee ESD, contamination, cleanroom, and EH&S controls supporting space-grade manufacturing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quality, Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering with 7 years of experience in quality engineering or mission assurance, OR a Master's degree with 5 years of experience, OR 11 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Deep working knowledge of AS9100D and demonstrated experience navigating regulatory aerospace quality audits.
• Experience leading Material Review Board (MRB) activities and closed-loop root cause and corrective action, including NCR, CAR, and SCAR workflows and 8D and 5-Why methods.
• Knowledge of space-grade workmanship standards, including IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, including the Space Addendum.
• Experience with supplier quality management, source inspection, and PCBA manufacturing.
• Ability to interpret schematics, assembly drawings, specifications, and data sheets for complex electronic hardware.
• 3 years leading high-performing technical quality and inspection teams of up to 10 personnel.
• Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance and ASQ certification (Certified Quality Manager, CMQ/OE, or Certified Quality Engineer, CQE).
• Certification in IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, including the Space Addendum, and Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt), with familiarity in counterfeit-parts prevention (AS5553 and AS6174), NADCAP special-process qualification, and configuration management.

Work Environment

• On-site in San Diego, CA.
• Occasional travel, up to 10%, including domestic supplier and customer site visits.
• Ability to work in a cleanroom and ESD-controlled manufacturing environment and to lift or move items or equipment up to 25 pounds.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range: $145,000 to $195,000 USD. This position is incentive plan eligible.

Benefits include:

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with 50% company match on contributions up to 8%
• Company wellness programs
• Flexible gym memberships
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources

Employment Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. Person: a U.S. Citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3). Applicants must be eligible to obtain any required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce.