Quality Assurance Manager - Aerospace & Defense Pontifex Group LLC Santa Ana, CA Job Details Full-time $130,000 - $165,000 a year 16 hours ago Qualifications Customer communication Teamwork Six Sigma Green Belt DoD experience Attention to detail Process management Technical Proficiency Negotiation Full Job Description

OVERVIEW

Engineering based firm specializing in fluid pulsation, noise & surge control seeking a detail-oriented, strategic and federally compliant Quality Assurance (QA) Manager with Aerospace & Defense experience to lead a quality department. In this role, you will own the company's

AS9100/ISO

9001-certified Quality Management System (QMS) and serve as the primary liasion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) , Department of Defense (DoD) , and other regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate is as comfortable shaping quality strategy at the leadership table as they are working the shop floor - ensuring the company's engineered products stay compliant, reliable, and audit-ready across aerospace, marine, municipal, and defense markets, including ITAR-controlled and US Navy SUBSAFE/Level 1 work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create, implement, and maintain company-wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Maintain and continuously improve the

AS9100/ISO 9001

certified QMS; serve as Management Representative

• Mange document control - procedures, work instructions, forms, and revision/change management
• Lead the internal audit program
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the FAA including the Manufacturing Inspection District Office ( MIDO ) and Flight Standards District Office ( FSDO ), managing all conformity inspections and production certificate approvals
• Manage physical audits and productions approvals with the FAA and DOD Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
• Ensure materials and workflows strictly adhere to DoD regulations, Military Specifications (Mil-Specs), and AS9100 standards
• Ensure compliance with sourcing requirements, including the Buy American Act and BABA frameworks
• Ensure compliance with ITAR and customer-specific quality clauses, including U.S. Navy SUBSAFE/Level 1 requirements
• Directly supervise Quality Assurance Coordinator; oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection, including First Article Inspection (AS9102)
• Apply working knowledge of the ASME Code for Pressure Vessels, Piping, and Welding (BPVC Sections

II, V, VIII, IX

) and AWS Codes/weld symbols to inspection and acceptance activities

• Apply knowledge of industrial paint and coating specifications meeting NACE requirements
• Manage nonconformance, corrective/preventive action (CAPA/RCCA), and Material Review Board (MRB) processes
• Manage the calibration program for inspection/measurement equipment
• Monitor critical quality metrics (defect rates, scrap costs) to identify trends and report findings to executive leadership
• Drive Cost of Quality (COQ) reduction - scrap materials, warranty payouts, and timeline delays
• Track and report quality metrics/KPIs; lead Management Review meetings with the President
• Partner with design, engineering, and supply-chain stakeholders to build quality into early design stages by developing acceptance test procedures
• Qualify and evaluate suppliers, including for ASME pressure vessels, electrical panels, and other industrial equipment
• Manage supplier audits and Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCARs)
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and design reviews from a quality/manufacturing standpoint
• Respond to and resolve quality issues in coordination with engineering, suppliers, and customer support

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field (Mechanical, Aerospace, or related discipline preferred)
• 5+ years of quality management/quality engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (aerospace/defense preferred)
• Prior experience as an FAA Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative (DMIR) or Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience maintaining AS9100-certified QMS, including audit leadership
• Strong knowledge of industry standards:

AS9100/ISO 9001

standards, Six Sigma, or structural frameworks like Lean manufacturing.

• Good understanding of

ASME BPVC

(Sections

II, V, VIII, IX

), AWS welding codes/symbols, and NACE coating specifications

• Working knowledge of the Buy American Act and BABA sourcing frameworks
• Working knowledge of the GD&T, SPC, FMEA, and root cause/corrective action methodologies
• Proficiency with data analysis tools and inventory/project management software
• Active professional certification preferred (e.g., ASQ Certified Quality Manager, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt)
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution abilities; able to clearly convey technical limitations to executives
• Comfortable operating as a hands-on individual contributor in a small company-environment - willing to roll up sleeves on the floor as well as own strategic QMS/regulatory responsibilities
• Strong leadership presence despite a lean team structure - leads by influence and technical credibility as much as authority
• Willingness and ability to travel as required (15-25%)
• Role eligible for annual discretionary bonus
• Must qualify as a "U.

S. Person" under ITAR (22 CFR 120.15)

WHY JOIN US

This role offers a hands-on, broad project ownership, and direct customer engagement in a technically challenging and collaborative environment.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$130,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location:

In person