Senior Manager Quality Systems Engineering

About the Company

Our client is an advanced manufacturing company supporting industries where quality, precision, reliability, and rigorous regulatory requirements are critical. The company operates across aerospace and automotive programs and combines advanced manufacturing with highly integrated engineering and production systems.

The organization operates in a fast-moving manufacturing environment where quality systems must support complex processes, evolving technologies, customer requirements, and multiple industry certifications within a unified management system.

The Role

Our client is looking for a Senior Manager, Quality Systems Engineering to lead its Quality Systems Engineering organization and own the company's Enterprise Quality Management System (QMS).

This is a hands-on quality leadership role spanning QMS ownership, audit programs, certification and compliance, CAPA, root cause analysis, document control, management of change, digital quality systems, and quality data reporting.

You will own the architecture of the Enterprise QMS and ensure that documented processes accurately reflect how work is performed across the organization. You will also lead the development and direction of a Digital Quality Management System (DQMS) designed to consolidate part quality information into a single digital thread.

The role also carries significant people leadership responsibility. You will lead and develop Quality Systems Engineers and document control specialists while establishing strong practices around auditing, root cause analysis, CAPA, QMS administration, and process documentation.

The ideal candidate combines deep manufacturing quality systems experience with hands-on technical knowledge and leadership experience. This person should be comfortable owning a QMS in a regulated or certified manufacturing environment while working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, Software, IT, and other quality organizations. 

What You'll Own

• Own the architecture of the Enterprise QMS end to end, including the policy, procedure, and work-instruction hierarchy.
• Keep documented processes aligned with how work is actually performed and resolve gaps or conflicts between functions.
• Integrate quality requirements and process controls throughout the product lifecycle.
• Own the vision, direction, and roadmap for the Digital Quality Management System (DQMS).
• Define functional and data requirements for capturing and managing part quality information within the digital quality system.
• Partner with Software, IT, and Data Engineering teams to develop and deploy digital quality capabilities.
• Establish governance around quality data ownership, validation, entry discipline, and systems of record.
• Lead and develop a team of Quality Systems Engineers and document control specialists, including setting priorities, balancing workload, and owning hiring for the function.
• Build team capabilities in auditing, root cause analysis, CAPA, QMS administration, and process documentation.
• Own the internal audit program, including audit schedules, auditor qualification, finding classification, and escalation.
• Lead layered process audits on the production floor.
• Serve as the primary interface for registrar, customer, and third-party audits and drive findings through verified closure.
• Maintain quality certifications across AS9100, ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and Nadcap, including surveillance and recertification readiness.
• Manage aerospace and automotive certification requirements within a single coherent management system.
• Own the electronic document control system, including controlled documents, revisions, approvals, retention, workflows, and access.
• Administer the Management of Change process for changes involving processes, materials, equipment, and suppliers.
• Own the CAPA pipeline and drive corrective actions related to escapes, audit findings, and nonconformances to systemic closure.
• Establish and maintain structured root cause analysis standards across the organization.
• Define and report quality system metrics, including audit trends, CAPA cycle time and effectiveness, document health, and certification status.
• Present quality system performance and risk to senior leadership.
• Partner across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, and quality and reliability organizations to embed quality requirements into operational decisions. 

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in Quality Engineering or Quality Systems in a manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of experience leading and developing a team, including direct people management.
• Demonstrated experience owning a Quality Management System (QMS) within a regulated or certified manufacturing environment, including responsibility for its documentation structure.
• Experience planning and conducting internal audits and supporting external registrar or customer audits.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Hands-on experience with structured root cause and corrective action methodologies, including 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, and FMEA.
• Experience driving corrective actions through verified closure.
• Experience defining requirements for and deploying quality systems software in partnership with Software or IT teams.
• Experience administering an electronic QMS or document control platform.
• Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export-control requirements. 

Nice to Have

• Certified Lead Auditor for AS9100, ISO 9001, or IATF 16949.
• ASQ certification such as CQE, CQA, or CMQ/OE.
• Experience leading a digital quality, digital thread, or part traceability initiative, including requirements definition and phased rollout.
• Experience integrating quality data across MES, PLM, and ERP systems.
• Experience deploying a layered process audit program in a production environment.
• Experience in additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, or low-volume high-mix production environments.
• Experience standing up or substantially restructuring a QMS rather than only maintaining an established system.
• Experience maintaining both aerospace and automotive certifications within a single management system.
• Hands-on ETQ Reliance administration experience.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Experience supporting aerospace or automotive structures programs. 

Work Environment

This is an onsite position based in Southern California.

The role operates within a manufacturing environment and requires close partnership with production, engineering, quality, and other cross-functional teams.