POSITION SUMMARY
The Quality Manager (site level) is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements across aerospace, defense, and/or marine sectors. This role leads quality assurance, quality control, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance initiatives while promoting a culture of operational excellence, product integrity, and customer satisfaction.
The Quality Manager ensures products, processes, and services meet the stringent requirements of aerospace and defense standards, government contracts, and customer specifications. This position provides leadership for all quality-related activities and serves as the organization's primary advocate for quality excellence, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
The Quality Manager reports directly to the General Manager with a functional reporting relationship to the Director of Quality. In this role the Quality Manager is responsible for aligning site-level quality objectives with corporate quality strategies, ensuring consistency of quality standards, processes, metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
Business Unit: Kahr Bearings
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Champion a proactive quality culture that promotes accountability, engagement, continuous improvement, risk-based thinking, and quality ownership at all levels of the organization.
- Lead and manage all site quality assurance, quality control, supplier quality, and quality systems to ensure compliance, operational effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
- Drive a zero-defect culture through disciplined execution of structured problem-solving, AS9145 APQP/PPAP standards, and risk management.
- Recruit, train, mentor, and develop quality personnel while fostering a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Quality Management System in accordance with AS9100, ISO 9001, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards (FAA, EASA, DoD, ect.).
- Lead and oversee the Material Review Board (MRB) process, ensuring timely and compliant disposition of nonconforming material.
- Ensure compliance with aerospace, defense, marine, government, and customer contractual requirements.
- Serve as the primary quality representative during customer audits, regulatory inspections, certification audits, and management reviews.
- Establish, monitor, and report quality metrics, including customer complaints, internal defects, supplier performance, cost of poor quality, first-pass yield, and audit findings.
- Ensure effective inspection, testing, calibration, and verification processes are maintained throughout manufacturing operations.
- Develop and maintain quality procedures, work instructions, quality plans, inspection plans, and process controls.
- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Lean Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to advance quality performance, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to establish quality goals, strategic objectives, and improvement plans.
- Ensure compliance with export control, defense program, and customer-specific requirements as applicable.
Travel Requirement: Up to 10% travel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a related technical field
- 5+ years experience in quality management within a regulated industry (aerospace, defense, marine), or the overall equivalent
- Experience working within AS9100, ISO 9001, Aerospace & Defense, Marine or other regulated manufacturing environments.
- Strong APQP/PPAP expertise with experience leading quality planning, risk management, and process validation efforts.
- Strong knowledge of structured problem-solving methodologies, including root cause analysis, 8D, and corrective action processes.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T.
- 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.
- Strong and demonstrated communication skills (written, verbal, visual) and interpersonal skills (listening and communicating within group working environment).
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications and quality-related software systems.
Preferred Requirements:
- Master’s Degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
- 10+ years experience in quality management within a regulated industry (aerospace, defense, marine), or the overall equivalent
- Knowledge of FAA Part 145 Repair Station requirements, airworthiness regulations, technical publications, and maintenance documentation practices.
- Internal/Lead Auditor training or certification.
- Experience managing calibration systems and metrology laboratories.
- Knowledgeable with precision measurement equipment including calipers, micrometers, height gages, optical comparators, and CMM equipment.
- Experience with ERP and quality management systems.
Skills:
- Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team development capabilities with a proven ability to build and sustain high-performing teams.
- Ability to balance regulatory compliance, product safety, quality performance, operational efficiency.
- Knowledge and application of Corrective Action methodologies, including investigation, implementation, verification, and effectiveness evaluation.
- Understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodologies and the use of data-driven approaches to monitor and improve process performance.
- Experience in root cause analysis techniques and structured problem-solving methodologies and other continuous improvement tools.
- Analytical and data interpretation skills with the ability to identify trends, assess risks, and drive informed decision-making through quality metrics and performance data.
RBC Bearings Incorporated (NYSE: RBC/RBCP) is a leading international manufacturer of highly engineered precision bearings, components, and essential systems for the industrial, defense and aerospace industries. Founded in 1919, the Company is primarily focused on producing highly technical and/or regulated bearing products and components requiring sophisticated design, testing, and manufacturing capabilities for the diversified industrial, aerospace and defense markets. RBC currently has 56 facilities, of which 37 are manufacturing facilities in ten countries and the market capitalization is approximately $6.2 billion.
In 2015, RBC acquired Sargent Aerospace and Defense.
Founded in 1920, Sargent Aerospace & Defense leverages 100 years of expertise as a premier global supplier of precision engineered customized components that directly contributes to the safe operation of countless commercial and military aircraft, rotorcraft, submarines, and land-based vehicles.
At Sargent, our mission is to secure our future by making the challenging a reality. We achieve this by delivering high quality products and services that meet customer requirements and exceed customer expectations through employee development, customer focus and continual improvement.
Sargent’s continuing investment in people, assets, technology, and process quality ensures excellence and is integral to the company’s commitment to customers and their end-users. As we grow, we will continue to root our culture through our core values of Integrity, Respects & Values People, Customer Focus, Teamwork, Results Focus and Continual Improvement.
Company Benefits Include:
- Competitive Compensation
- Bonus platforms
- Holidays/Vacation/Sick Time
- 401k Savings & Investment Plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Medical/Dental/Vision Plans
- HSA/FSA
- Life & Disability Insurance
- Accident/Hospital/Critical Care Plans
- Pet Insurance
- Gym & Rideshare Incentives
- Legal Insurance/Identity Theft
- ½ day Fridays
Dedication to our core values. Our must haves…
- Integrity - We do the right thing the right way. Our ideal candidate is ethical, honest in all interactions, delivers good news and bad, and follows through on commitments. Key Skills & Abilities is fair, credible, confidential, fiscally responsible, and accountable for decisions and actions.
- Respects and Values People - We encourage and bring out the potential of others. Our ideal candidate embraces diversity, recognizes, and supports the accomplishments, talents, and development of others. Key Skills & Abilities is committed to the building of strong relationships and creates an environment of trust and mutual respect.
- Customer Focus - We act with excellence in each and every interaction. Our ideal candidate builds strong internal/external customer relationships and goes above and beyond to deliver high quality products and services on time, every time. Key Skills & Abilities is responsive with strong customer service skills, product, and job knowledge to provide excellent customer satisfaction.
- Teamwork - We are better together. Our ideal candidate is inclusive, engaged and collaborative, sharing information, ideas, and experiences to accomplish goals, improve decision making and leverage capabilities. Key Skills & Abilities is a dependable team player, demonstrated through attendance and punctuality, works well with others, and has strong communication skills (both oral & written) to keep all stakeholders informed.
- Results Focus - We focus on the outcome, not the obstacle. Our ideal candidate must have a strong work ethic with a results/performance driven track record in a fast paced, changing, and challenging environment. Key Skills & Abilities is adaptable, works with a sense of urgency and high level of initiative and demonstrates a commitment to quality with attention to detail.
- Continual Improvement - We encourage and drive innovation. Our ideal candidate must be naturally curious, passionate, and never satisfied with the status quo. Key Skills & Abilities is innovative and has a problem-solving mindset that provides and implements CI ideas.
EEO/AA/F/M/VET/DISABLED
Required
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5 year(s): quality management within a regulated industry (aerospace, defense, marine)
Required
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Bachelors or better in Engineering
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
