Safran DSI Business Unit: Attollo Engineering
POSITION PROFILE:The Director of Quality & Operational Excellence is a business-minded, proactive, and collaborative role that takes true ownership of our Quality Management System (QMS). Attollo views quality as a driver of operational efficiency, throughput optimization, and friction removal, rather than a bureaucratic checkpoint.
This role will be a strategic partner for the Manufacturing and Leadership teams. As a business-minded systems thinker, they will focus on optimizing processes, eliminating operational waste, improving company-wide buy-in, and shifting our quality culture to a shared "culture of improvement". Attollo operates as a tight-knit, agile organization, so this role must be entirely comfortable rolling up their sleeves and performing tactical, lower-level quality tasks when necessary to ensure milestones are met.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- QMS Ownership & Operational Strategy: Oversee, maintain, and continuously improve the company's AS9100 quality management system, metrics, and procedural documentation to support business growth and scale systems efficiently.
- Process Optimization & Waste Elimination: Look at quality through the lens of operational excellence to optimize manufacturing throughput and remove unnecessary operational friction across our specialized production workflows.
- Collaborative Problem Solving: Partner directly with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Procurement to resolve issues using systemic Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodologies like the 5 Whys and Fishbone diagrams. Focus solutions on fixing system "glitches" rather than placing blame on individuals.
- Hands-on Execution: Actively overseeing incoming, in-process, and final inspections, as well as First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) documentation for customer deliverables whenever workload demands require it.
- Compliance & Customer Relations: Lead external quality audits, manage relationships with government agencies and customers (such as the DCMA), and oversee quality flow-downs to ensure compliance with strict aerospace, defense, and ITAR frameworks.
- Supplier Engagement: initiate and contribute to internal and supplier corrective actions (CAPAs) and conduct on-site supplier quality visits as needed to build a dependable, high-performing supply chain.
- Training & Culture Building: Develop and deliver engaging, high-buy-in training protocols to guide and empower employees across all departments on the practical application of quality control.
- Perform other duties as assigned
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or technical field.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in a quality assurance role within a highly regulated manufacturing environment (Aerospace/Defense heavily preferred)
- At least 3 years in a management or leadership capacity
- Strong familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous process improvement methodologies is highly valued to help view quality as a business optimization tool.
- Proficient and deeply knowledgeable in AS9100/ISO 9001 requirements, government quality flow-downs, and DCMA/Government coordination.
- Experience utilizing quality-related software and configuration tools, with experience in SolidWorks PDM, Cetec ERP, SAP, or related configuration/ERP suites being a major plus.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to balance strict compliance requirements with manufacturing throughput goals.
- Excellent collaborative, multitasking, and organizational abilities
- "No task is too small" attitude with a proven willingness to handle direct inspection and documentation work alongside strategic planning is essential.
- Requires U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status required.
IDEALLY, YOU'LL ALSO HAVE:- MBA or strong background in operational management/business operations
- Experience working in an ITAR environment
SALARY RANGE: $180,000-$210,000 annual salary, plus participation in management performance bonus plan. 
