Director of Quality and Mission Assurance

Worker Type

Job Description
 

Summary

Director of Quality and Mission Assurancewill lead quality, compliance, and risk mitigation efforts within the organization. This role is critical in ensuring that products, processes, and systems meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance while supporting mission-critical defense initiatives.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Quality and Mission Assurance strategy, ensuring alignment with RS&D business objectives.
• Lead Quality Management System (QMS) governance, ensuring compliance with DoD, AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, CMMC, and other relevant standards.
• Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and improve quality, reliability, and operational performance.
• Drive a culture of quality excellence, risk mitigation, across all programs and functions.
• Oversee end-to-end product quality, from design and development through production, testing, and field support.
• Implement advanced quality assurance methodologies, including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA), and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Ensure supplier quality compliance, managing audits and driving corrective actions for key defense suppliers.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to enhance design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for reliability (DFR)
• Serve as the primary compliance authority for quality and mission assurance, ensuring strict adherence to defense industry regulations.
• Lead internal and external audits, working closely with regulatory agencies, customers, and government bodies to maintain compliance.
• Develop and implement risk-based approaches to ensure operational resilience and program execution success.
• Oversee mission assurance activities, ensuring product reliability and system integrity under operational conditions.
• Work closely with customers, suppliers, and defense agencies to address quality concerns and ensure mission success.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 12+ years of experience in quality, mission assurance, or regulatory compliance within the defense, aerospace, or high-reliability manufacturing environment.
• Min 5 years’ experience in a people leadership role
• Expertise in AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, CMMC, and defense quality standards.
• Strong background in QMS implementation, supplier quality management, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Proven leadership experience managing quality teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with government contracts, DoD requirements, and working with regulatory agencies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Preferred Certifications: ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM); Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt; Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified Lead Auditor for AS9100/ISO 9001
• Proven track record in quality leadership within the defense, aerospace, or high-reliability manufacturing sector, ensuring operational excellence and mission success
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR