Quality Manager

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Quality Manager to lead the Quality department for a precision manufacturing operation in Bristol, Connecticut. This role is responsible for maintaining an AS9100-certified Quality Management System while ensuring machined components consistently meet customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.

The Quality Manager will serve as a member of the senior leadership team, manage a small inspection and quality-assurance group, and remain actively involved in first article, first-piece, in-process, and final inspections. The ideal candidate combines strong quality-system leadership with practical knowledge of precision machining, GD&T, dimensional inspection, CMM systems, root-cause analysis, and employee development.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Quality department and manage approximately two to three inspection and quality-assurance employees.
• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team.
• Maintain, administer, and continuously improve the AS9100-certified Quality Management System.
• Ensure quality procedures and requirements are fully implemented throughout the organization.
• Supervise and personally perform first article, first-piece, in-process, and final inspections.
• Prepare, perform, and review First Article Inspection and Production Process Submission documentation.
• Confirm that parts, production processes, and completed orders meet customer specifications.
• Ensure final inspections are completed accurately and promptly before products are released for shipment.
• Program, operate, and maintain CMM and vision-inspection systems.
• Read and interpret complex engineering drawings, prints, solid models, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
• Train machine operators and inspectors on blueprint reading, measurement equipment, inspection methods, and GD&T.
• Monitor in-process inspection activities performed by machine operators.
• Identify and document nonconformances involving parts, processes, or the Quality Management System.
• Partner with engineering and manufacturing leadership to perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Serve as a standing member of the Material Review Board.
• Lead continuous-improvement efforts involving statistical process control, process capability, problem-solving methods, and applicable lean-manufacturing practices.
• Oversee the internal audit program and serve as a qualified AS9100 internal auditor.
• Coordinate customer, registrar, and other external quality audits.
• Communicate directly with customers regarding quality questions, concerns, corrective actions, and resolution plans.
• Work with suppliers to resolve quality concerns involving purchased materials, products, and services.
• Ensure gauges, inspection instruments, and measurement equipment are controlled, maintained, calibrated, and certified.
• Verify new fixtures, special tooling, purchased goods, Certificates of Conformance, and inspection equipment meet applicable requirements.
• Support quotations involving specialized gauges and inspection equipment.
• Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and professional Quality department.

Requirements:

• At least 15 years of progressive experience in quality, inspection, or related roles involving precision-machined parts and components.
• At least 10 years of quality experience within an AS9100-certified Quality Management System.
• Previous experience leading a Quality department and supervising quality or inspection employees.
• Hands-on experience performing first article, first-piece, in-process, and final inspections.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 requirements, internal auditing, and external audit preparation.
• Advanced ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, blueprints, solid models, and customer specifications.
• Strong knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
• Experience using precision measurement equipment and performing bench or layout dimensional inspections.
• Experience programming or operating CMM and vision-inspection systems.
• Knowledge of nonconformance management, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and Material Review Board processes.
• Familiarity with statistical process control, process capability studies, continuous improvement, and lean-manufacturing principles.
• Ability to train and coach machine operators and inspectors on blueprint reading, GD&T, measurement, and inspection methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with employees, leadership, customers, auditors, and suppliers.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to support challenging organizational goals.