Director of Quality

We are seeking a Quality Leader in the Greater Rockford, IL area with an interest and ability to oversee the full quality function for a multi-site manufacturer in the area. This role is responsible for building a strong quality culture, guiding the business through audits, and ensuring compliance with AS9100 while driving measurable improvements across manufacturing, suppliers, and customer-facing processes.

This position has direct leadership responsibility and works closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to protect product integrity, customer satisfaction, and business performance.

• Own and lead the company’s Quality Management System, ensuring full compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements
• Act as the primary Quality Management Representative for AS9100, including preparation for and leadership of registrar, customer, and internal audits
• Develop and execute quality strategies that reduce defects, improve yields, and support long-term operational excellence
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Quality team, setting expectations and driving accountability
• Establish and monitor key quality metrics and KPIs to measure system effectiveness and identify trends
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization
• Partner with Engineering during product development and process changes to ensure quality requirements are embedded from design through production
• Build and maintain systems for data collection and analysis to proactively identify risks and improvement opportunities
• Define quality planning methods and standards across all product lines
• Develop and support process qualification and certification activities
• Oversee supplier quality performance, including qualification, evaluation, corrective actions, and ongoing monitoring
• Review customer contracts, purchase orders, and change requests to ensure quality and regulatory requirements are fully addressed
• Serve as a key interface with customers on quality-related matters, ensuring effective communication and resolution
• Oversee calibration, inspection, and testing programs to ensure compliance and traceability
• Communicate quality performance, risks, and improvement progress to senior leadership

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing) preferred.
• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in Quality leadership within a manufacturing environment
• Direct, hands‑on experience with AS9100 is required, including leading audits and acting as a Quality Management Representative
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, corrective action systems, root cause methodologies, and continuous improvement tools
• Experience in aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross‑functional partners, and drive cultural change
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, auditors, and executive leadership