Director of Quality

Description

The Opportunity

Advanced Cooling Technologies (ACT) is growing—and our Quality organization is evolving with us.

We are seeking an experienced Director of Quality to lead and strengthen our quality organization across multiple manufacturing locations. This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape how Quality supports ACT's continued growth across aerospace, defense, data center, and other demanding markets.

This role goes beyond maintaining a Quality Management System. The Director of Quality will develop people, strengthen processes, use data to improve performance, and build a scalable quality organization capable of supporting both high-mix, low-volume and higher-volume manufacturing operations.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on strategic leader who can move comfortably between the manufacturing floor and the leadership table—someone who understands regulated manufacturing, develops strong teams, solves systemic problems, and builds effective partnerships across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and the broader organization.

The Director will lead and develop the Quality team, drive continuous improvement and operational excellence, and partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other leaders to strengthen quality performance and support ACT’s continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the quality organization across all company locations.
• Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System (QMS), including compliance with AS9100 and ISO 9001 requirements.
• Establish quality strategies, standards, and controls that support product quality, operational performance, and customer requirements.
• Lead, develop, and build capability within the Quality team.
• Analyze quality and manufacturing metrics to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to reduce scrap and rework, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Drive effective corrective and preventive actions and systematic problem-solving.
• Partner cross-functionally to improve product and process quality.
• Provide oversight for customer quality issues, supplier quality performance, and audits.
• Maintain readiness for customer, registrar, and regulatory audits.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible quality leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading quality operations across multiple locations.
• Experience supporting both high-mix, low-volume and high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success leading quality organizations through growth and operational change.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems and applicable standards, including AS9100 and ISO 9001.

Preferred

• U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Individual, as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), preferred due to ITAR responsibilities.
• ASQ certification such as CMQ/OE or CQE.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with government contracting quality requirements.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or demonstrated continuous improvement experience.
• Experience scaling quality systems to support organizational growth.

This position works across both office and manufacturing environments and requires regular travel between company locations, with occasional travel to customer, supplier, or other business locations.

ACT offers competitive pay, excellent benefits (medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holidays, company-paid life & disability insurance, 401(k) match, and profit-sharing), and a supportive team environment.

ACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

ACT participates in E-Verify.

California Applicants: ACT collects personal information for hiring purposes. California residents may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA. Contact HR at barbara.rockwell@1-act.com.