Director of Quality Assurance: Top Recruiters in Birmingham, Alabama
The Birmingham Aerospace & Defense Market
Birmingham's defense market serves the central Alabama region, with defense IT, logistics, and vehicle refurbishment programs at Anniston Army Depot creating demand for operations and program management executives.
About This Role
The Director of Quality Assurance leads the enterprise quality management system, ensuring all products and processes meet government, prime contractor, and internal quality standards. This director owns AS9100 certification, manages government quality representative relationships, and drives first-time quality and continuous quality improvement across manufacturing and engineering organizations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the enterprise quality management system in compliance with AS9100D and applicable MIL-Q standards
- Own relationships with DCMA quality representatives, DCAA, and prime contractor quality surveillance personnel
- Drive first-time quality, defect reduction, and corrective action management across all programs
- Oversee inspection planning, acceptance test procedures, and first article inspection programs
- Lead supplier quality management including supplier qualification, surveillance, and corrective action
- Manage the quality engineering function including DFM/DFQ, process control, and statistical methods
- Lead internal audit programs to ensure ongoing AS9100 compliance and readiness for external surveillance audits
- Develop and maintain the enterprise corrective and preventive action (CAPA) system
- Interface with customers on quality escapes, non-conformances, and customer satisfaction measurement
- Lead quality workforce development and quality culture initiatives across manufacturing and engineering
Leading Employers in Birmingham
The Aerospace & Defense talent pool in Birmingham is shaped by movement between these anchor employers and their tier-one supplier base:
Required Experience & Background
- 12+ years in A&D quality assurance with 3+ years in a director-level quality leadership role
- AS9100 Lead Auditor certification required
- Active Secret clearance preferred
- Deep expertise in NADCAP, first article inspection, and special process qualification
- Experience managing government quality representative relationships and DCMA surveillance programs
- CQE or CMQ/OE certification (ASQ) strongly preferred
Core Leadership Competencies
- Quality Systems Leadership: Deep AS9100D expertise and ability to drive systemic quality improvement
- Government Interface: Proven skill in managing DCMA, DCAA, and prime contractor quality relationships
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Use of SPC, root cause analysis, and quality metrics to drive improvement
- Supplier Quality Management: Ability to develop and enforce supplier quality requirements in defense supply chains
- Culture Building: Track record of building quality-first cultures that reduce escapes and rework
Regulatory & Compliance Context
Directors of Quality Assurance in defense must maintain AS9100D certification with IAQG oversight. NADCAP accreditation is required for special processes (welding, heat treat, NDT, coatings). MIL-I-45208 inspection system requirements and FAR 46.407 government quality assurance procedures govern customer acceptance activities.
Compensation Benchmarks for Birmingham, AL
Nexoval Search Partners' Approach in Birmingham
Nexoval Search Partners's dedicated Aerospace & Defense practice maintains active relationships with the executive talent community across Birmingham and the broader Alabama market. Our consultants conduct thorough market mapping of available passive and active candidates across the region's leading employers, from established industry leaders to innovative growth companies. Every engagement includes confidential outreach, rigorous competency-based assessment, and candidate presentation within 45 to 60 days of engagement launch. Nexoval Search Partners's retained search model and one-year replacement guarantee ensure every executive we place in Birmingham, Alabama delivers long-term organizational value.