Quality DirectorAerospace Manufacturing | Senior Leadership TeamPosition SummaryThe Quality Director is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for ensuring Columbia Manufacturing consistently delivers products that meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality requirements.
This role goes beyond compliance. We are seeking a leader who combines sound judgment, ethical decision-making, objective interpretation of requirements, and strong cross-functional leadership. The successful candidate will guide the organization through customer requirements, industry standards, and business challenges while ensuring quality and integrity remain at the center of every decision. We believe strong teams produce strong results, and cultural fit is as important as technical expertise.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who earns trust, develops people, and works effectively with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and customers. We value practical experience as highly as formal education and welcome candidates who have built their careers through hands-on manufacturing and quality leadership roles.
What You'll DoLead the Quality Management System- Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Management System.
- Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and aerospace requirements.
- Promote quality ownership and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Guide Quality Decisions- Interpret customer specifications, drawings, contractual requirements, and industry standards.
- Provide guidance when requirements are unclear, conflicting, or open to interpretation.
- Lead investigations, corrective actions, and nonconformance resolution using sound judgment and risk-based decision making.
Partner with Customers and Regulatory Bodies- Serve as the primary quality representative to customers, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
- Build trusted relationships and lead internal, customer, and third-party audits.
Develop People and Culture- Lead, mentor, and develop the Quality team.
- Build a high-performing organization through coaching, accountability, and succession planning.
- Foster collaboration and an environment where employees are comfortable raising concerns.
- Promote a culture where doing the right thing is always more important than meeting a schedule.
Contribute to Business Success- Partner with Operations and Leadership to improve performance, reduce risk, strengthen organizational alignment, and support growth.
- Balance customer expectations, business priorities, and compliance requirements without compromising quality standards.
- Exercise independent quality authority and be willing to stop production or shipment when requirements have not been met.
What We're Looking ForWe recognize that great leaders come from many backgrounds. Candidates may have developed through engineering, manufacturing, inspection, quality systems, operations, military service, trade programs, or traditional degree pathways. Equivalent combinations of education, military training, trade experience, and hands-on manufacturing or quality leadership experience will be fully considered.
We are less concerned with how you gained your experience and more interested in your ability to lead people, interpret requirements, make sound decisions, and uphold quality standards under pressure.
Successful candidates will typically possess:
- Experience leading quality functions within aerospace, manufacturing, or other highly regulated industries.
- Strong understanding of quality systems, customer requirements, and specification interpretation.
- Demonstrated ethical leadership, sound decision-making, and the ability to uphold standards under pressure.
- Proven success leading teams and collaborating across departments.
- Strong communication skills and experience working with customers, auditors, and senior leadership.
- Continuous improvement mindset and practical problem-solving ability.
Preferred Experience- Familiarity with aerospace quality standards such as AS9100, AS9110, AS13100, NADCAP, or customer-specific requirements.
- Experience supporting OEM customers such as GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, or similar organizations.
- Quality certifications or advanced education are valued but not required.
Why This Role MattersThe Quality Director plays a critical role in protecting our customers, our employees, and our reputation. This leader helps ensure that every product we build meets requirements and that every decision we make reflects our commitment to integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
If you are a leader who values ethics, teamwork, sound judgment, and building strong people and processes, we encourage you to apply. 
