Quality Manager at Karman Space & Defense in Arlington

Quality Manager

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Space and Launch business, which has contributed to the nation’s space programs for decades by delivering complete solutions from concept to flight. We enable successful space operations with mission-critical technology supporting every step from first launch to final landing, including launch vehicle subsystems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic and interstage systems, and payload protection and deployment. Our high-performance solutions are engineered to operate in the most extreme environments and meet precise mission requirements.

The Quality Manager leads quality assurance, quality engineering, metrology, and compliance for a single-site, AS9100-certified defense and space manufacturing operation. Reporting to the Site Manager, this role serves as the site’s senior quality authority and combines strategic leadership with hands-on inspection, metrology, and audit work. You will strengthen the site’s quality function, guide a growing team, and partner with Operations, Planning, Engineering, and Manufacturing to ensure quality throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Owns, maintains, and continuously improves the AS9100-certified Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Leads internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and document control while serving as the primary interface for third-party, customer, and government audits.
• Ensures quality is embedded throughout design, development, manufacturing, testing, delivery, and sustainment.
• Partners with Engineering on design reviews, risk management, configuration control, and change management.
• Oversees First Article Inspection in accordance with AS9102, nonconformance management, Material Review Board (MRB) activities, and root cause corrective actions.
• Collaborates with Manufacturing to strengthen process control, inspection effectiveness, and production readiness.
• Manages supplier quality activities, including requirements flow-down, qualification, performance monitoring, corrective actions, and risk mitigation.
• Performs dimensional inspection and manual metrology work as needed and partners with the Metrology Engineer on coordinate measuring machine (CMM) programming strategy.
• Builds, leads, and mentors the site’s quality inspection and metrology function, including hiring and training as the team grows.
• Manages the site’s quality inspectors and CMM programming resources, including the Metrology Engineering Technician/CMM Programmer.

Required Qualifications

• 8-12 years of experience in manufacturing quality or metrology.
• Demonstrated ownership of an AS9100-certified QMS, including audit leadership.
• Experience supporting the design and manufacturing of aerospace products.
• Experience with supplier quality management and supplier corrective action.
• Working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and dimensional inspection methods.
• Deep understanding of manual metrology methods and the ability to teach them.
• Willingness and ability to personally perform quality, metrology, and audit work as a sole practitioner, not only manage others performing it.
• Clear communication skills with executives, engineers, and technicians.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work full-time on-site.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• Experience programming and operating stationary and portable CMMs.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.