Position Summary
MBDA Incorporated is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisor to join our Quality Assurance team in Huntsville, AL. The SR QA Supervisor provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for quality inspection activities, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, customer, and internal quality requirements. This role is primarily supervisory and administrative in nature, focused on leading inspection personnel, driving quality system effectiveness, and maintaining configuration management and document control processes.
The SR QA Supervisor does not routinely perform hands-on inspections but ensures qualified inspectors execute all inspection activities in accordance with established standards. This position is responsible for optimizing inspection processes, maintaining data integrity, supporting compliance with AS9100/ISO quality standards, and promoting a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Leadership & Oversight
- Supervise, lead, and coordinate the activities of Quality Inspectors while collaborating with Quality Engineers and Technicians to ensure effective execution of inspection plans and adherence to quality standards.
- Assign, prioritize, and monitor workloads to meet production schedules and program objectives.
- Evaluate inspector performance, productivity, and compliance; provide coaching, mentoring, and corrective actions as needed.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for quality-related issues identified during inspection activities.
- Develop, implement, and monitor audit plans and inspection strategies to ensure process and product compliance.
- Ensure all inspection activities are performed in accordance with company Quality Plans, Procedures, Work Instructions, and Engineering Drawings.
- Oversee the nonconformance management process, ensuring proper documentation and disposition of identified issues.
- Participate in cross-functional reviews including Material Review Boards (MRB), Root Cause Corrective Actions (RCCA), and Configuration Control Boards (CCB).
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of quality metrics, inspection results, and nonconformance data.
Configuration Management & Document Control
- Own and manage configuration management processes to maintain product and documentation integrity throughout the product lifecycle.
- Control, review, and maintain engineering documentation including drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and engineering change orders (ECOs).
- Ensure proper revision control and distribution of controlled documents across all applicable functions.
- Coordinate implementation of engineering changes while maintaining traceability and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain electronic and/or ERP-based document control systems to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and audit readiness.
- Conduct periodic audits of documentation and configuration baselines to ensure compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements.
- Support internal and external audits related to configuration management and document control.
Process & Quality System Leadership
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven methodologies.
- Ensure compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management system requirements.
- Support First Article Inspection (FAI) activities in accordance with AS9102 standards.
- Oversee product acceptance activities and support customer and government source inspections.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management teams to resolve quality issues and improve operational processes.
- Ensure proper use of ERP/MES systems for quality data entry, tracking, and reporting.
- Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and ethical behavior across the organization.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in a quality assurance role within a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or Department of Defense (DoD) environment.
- Prior supervisory, team leadership, or management experience leading technical personnel.
- Strong knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
- Experience with configuration management and document control processes.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications, including ANSI/ASME Y14.100 and ASME Y14.5 standards.
- Experience managing nonconformances and participating in root cause and corrective action investigations.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and quality data management tools.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.
- Experience working in an AS9100-certified aerospace or defense manufacturing environment.
- Familiarity with sampling standards including ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 and ANSI/ASQ Z1.9.
- Experience participating in Material Review Board (MRB), Failure Review Board (FRB), and Configuration Control Board (CCB) activities.
- Knowledge of First Article Inspection (FAI) requirements in accordance with AS9102.
- Experience supporting customer and government source inspections.
- Certification in Quality Management, Quality Engineering, or related discipline (e.g., ASQ CQE, CQM/OE, or equivalent).
Benefits
MBDA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) savings plan with company matching up to 6%
- Profit-sharing contributions to 401(k) up to 3%
- Life and disability insurance
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development assistance
- Generous paid time off and holidays
