POSITION SUMMARY

As a Supplier Quality Manager at Sargent Aerospace & Defense, you will work at our Tucson, AZ facility on an onsite schedule and report directly to the Director of Quality and dotted lined to Supply Chain Director. In this role, you will lead and manage supplier quality programs, processes, and personnel to ensure suppliers consistently meet Sargent quality standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations across all the Aerospace & Defense and Marine business units. You will serve as the primary leader responsible for supplier quality strategy, supplier performance management, risk mitigation, supplier development, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the supply chain.

This role manages the overall quality and compliance performance that drives continuous improvement across suppliers, and leads a team of Supplier Quality Professionals in executing APQP and PPAP, risk mitigation, and root-cause-based quality improvements. The individual in this role serves as the primary interface between the company and its suppliers for all quality related matters.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, communicate and drive a proactive Supplier Quality program for multiple business units
• Measure, maintain, analyze and communicate all Supplier Quality metrics, risks, and planned actions, and drive continuous improvements efforts at suppliers for improvement (CAR meetings, Mitigation meetings, etc.)
• Partner with the Supplier Chain function to enforce contract/purchase order requirements, assess and develop suppliers, and drive robust RCCA with suppliers
• Lead supplier quality planning and qualification activities, including APQP, PPAP approval, process validation, support work transfers, and new product introduction, ensuring supplier readiness and compliance with customer, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Investigate, evaluate, and resolve supplier quality problems by analyzing defect trends, issuing SCARs, implementing improvement plans, conducting audits, and leading continuous improvement projects to drive a zero defects mindset
• Responsible for developing a collaborative environment with suppliers, engineering, program quality, supplier chain, and operation leaders to resolve supplier issues
• Engage/lead in all supply chain discussions to ensure proper selection of sourcing (throughout entire product life cycle) to mitigate risk and reduce overall cost of ownership of the parts
• Partner with the business unit Quality teams to engage key supplier's management in a business review process to monitor metrics, identify trends and implement programs to assure demonstrated performance improvements
• Manages and develops a high performing team of Supplier Quality Professionals who can build relationships, interpret contractual and product requirements, and assist with flow down to suppliers
• Travel to supplier facilities as needed to support audits, investigations, supplier development initiatives, source inspections, executive reviews, and business objectives.

Travel Requirement: Up to 50% travel, primarily domestic, with occasional international travel as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.

• 7+ years experience in quality management within a regulated industry (aerospace, defense, marine), or the overall equivalent
• Strong technical knowledge of quality science tools and methodologies, including statistical process control, APQP (PFMEA, Control Plans), and robust root cause analysis
• Demonstrated success managing supplier improvements through audits and strong corrective action rigor
• Strong and demonstrated communication skills (written, verbal, visual) and interpersonal skills (listening and communicating within group working environment).
• Organizational skills - can marshal resources to get things done, orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal, use resources effectively and efficiently, and arrange information in a useful manner.

• Ability to travel up to 50%, including domestic and international travel as needed
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Engineering or a related technical field.

• 12+ years experience in quality management within a regulated industry (aerospace, defense, marine), or the overall equivalent

• AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• Experience within Aerospace & Defense, Marine, Naval Nuclear, Shipbuilding, Defense Contracting, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Experience ensuring supplier compliance with military specifications, DFARS/FAR, ITAR/EAR, domestic sourcing, material traceability, and counterfeit parts requirements.
• Experience leading supplier development and strategic supplier improvement programs.
• Experience with hydraulic components, precision machined components, actuators, valves, etc.
• Strong knowledge of Marine and Aerospace quality standards (AS9100, NADCAP, AS9145, etc..) and regulatory requirements (FAA, EASA, etc...).
• Working knowledge of ERP systems, supplier quality software, business intelligence tools, and quality data management systems.
• Experience supporting supplier transfer activities, new product introductions, production readiness reviews, and supply chain risk management.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, and Risk-Based Quality Management principles.

Skills:

• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team development skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and executive communication skills, with the ability to engage suppliers, customers, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Advanced problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven ability to build supplier partnerships and influence supplier and organizational performance without direct authority.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills, with the ability to lead multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and business acumen, with the ability to interpret performance metrics and balance quality, delivery, cost, compliance, and customer requirements.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic supplier quality plans aligned with organizational objectives.
• Strong understanding of risk management, supply chain resiliency, and proactive mitigation strategies.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, change management, and sustainable performance improvement.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to anticipate risks, drive organizational change, and implement effective long-term solutions.