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 Lead Auditor for AS9100/ISO 9001.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively and lead without direct authority.

• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships

• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances

• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared vision

• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change

• Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks

• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company

• Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc.  Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.

• May require travel to sites/program and special functions.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

• May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling.

Clearance Level
 

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR