Director of Quality

Job Title: Director of Quality

Location: Huntsville, AL
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Quality
Reports to: President/General Manager

About Sun Test Systems

At Sun Test Systems (STS), quality is more than compliance—it is a commitment to the Warfighters who rely on the products we manufacture. STS has designed, manufactured, and supported mission-critical aviation ground support equipment and advanced testing systems for the U.S. Department of War and allied military partners worldwide. Every product we build contributes to military readiness and operational success. Today, we are investing in our people, processes, and technology as we continue building a world-class manufacturing organization. We are seeking a visionary quality leader who wants the opportunity to shape the future of our company and establish a best-in-class quality organization. If you're passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement, and building a culture where quality drives every decision, we invite you to join us.

Position Summary

The Director of Quality serves as a key member of the Management Team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading the company's Quality Management System while fostering a culture of quality throughout the organization. This role extends well beyond traditional quality assurance. The Director of Quality will partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Executive Leadership to ensure quality is integrated into every aspect of our business—from proposal development through product delivery and customer support. The successful candidate will lead the maturation of our quality organization while ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, preparing the company for future AS9100 certification, supporting government and customer audits, and driving continuous improvement across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the company's long-term Quality Strategy.
• Align quality objectives with corporate business goals.
• Advise executive leadership on quality risks, trends, and strategic initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Quality Management System (QMS) Leadership

• Own and continually improve the company's Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and prepare the organization for future AS9100 certification.
• Establish and maintain quality policies, procedures, standards, and governance.
• Lead Management Reviews and communicate organizational quality performance to executive leadership.
• Ensure successful execution of customer, government, registrar, and internal audits.
• Maintain organizational audit readiness at all times.

Operational Quality Excellence

Provide leadership for:

• Incoming Inspection
• In-Process Inspection
• Final Inspection
• Product Testing
• First Article Inspection
• Calibration Systems
• Verification and Validation Activities
• Nonconformance Management
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Root Cause Analysis
• Product Acceptance Processes

Supplier Quality

Partner with Supply Chain to:

• Develop supplier qualification programs.
• Evaluate supplier performance.
• Conduct supplier audits.
• Develop supplier scorecards.
• Lead supplier corrective action initiatives.
• Reduce supplier risk throughout the supply chain.

Customer Quality

Serve as the company's senior quality representative by:

• Building trusted customer relationships.
• Supporting proposal development and contract execution.
• Leading customer quality investigations.
• Managing customer corrective actions.
• Supporting Program Management during contract execution.
• Ensuring customer requirements are effectively translated into manufacturing processes.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with:

• ISO 9001
• Future AS9100 requirements
• FAR and DFARS
• ITAR
• CMMC
• Customer-specific contractual requirements
• Defense industry quality standards
• Lead enterprise quality risk management initiatives and ensure proactive identification and mitigation of quality risks.

Continuous Improvement

Champion a culture of operational excellence by:

• Leading Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Applying Six Sigma methodologies.
• Developing meaningful quality metrics and dashboards.
• Reducing defects and waste.
• Improving first-pass yield.
• Driving process efficiency.
• Increasing customer satisfaction through measurable improvements.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Quality, or related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of progressive quality leadership experience
• Minimum 5 years leading quality organizations within aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or another regulated industry
• Demonstrated experience implementing and maintaining ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
• Experience supporting Department of Defense programs
  

Preferred

• Master's Degree
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent
• Experience implementing or maintaining AS9100
• Experience leading organizational quality transformations

Physical Requirements 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and reach with hands and arms
• Frequent movement between three buildings may require walking, standing, and occasional lifting
• Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies if needed
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus
• Prolonged periods standing, kneeling, bending, and climbing ladders
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Combination of office and production/warehouse environment. Exposure to mechanical equipment and moderate noise levels. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

* The above statements reflect general details necessary for the performance of the job and are not to be considered an all-inclusive list. Sun Test Systems, Inc. is a federal contractor and EEOC/Title VII/ADA compliant employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.