Sr Manager, Quality Assurance

Sr Manager, Quality Assurance

The Senior Quality Manager leads the quality organization for the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Arresting Systems business unit (BU) and ensures products, processes, and systems meet customer, regulatory, and U.S. Government contractual requirements.  Through its predecessor companies, Engineered Arresting Systems (ESCO) & Curtiss-Wright Arresting Systems, business units of the EMS division, created the first aircraft arresting system in 1960 and today is a world leader in land-based military arresting systems. Their diverse product portfolio includes energy absorbers, retractable hook cable systems, net-stanchion systems and mobile systems to support aircraft carriers and fixed land-based arresting systems. Their aftermarket business, which supports the world’s largest installed base of arresting systems, provides cradle-to-grave support from civil engineering at installation, on-site qualification through post-installation maintenance, spares, and overhaul services. 

The role provides leadership across Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Supplier Quality, Continuous Improvement, Process Adherence, BU KPIs and Metrics and Risk Management, ensuring compliance with ISO-based Quality Management Systems, FAR/DFARS requirements, and DCMA oversight expectations. The position drives continuous improvement, maintains audit readiness, and partners with engineering, operations, supply chain, and program management to deliver compliant, reliable products.

This role is fully on-site at the Aston, PA facility.

Location: Aston, PA

Salary: $150,000 to $165,000

Please note that the salary range information provided is a general guideline only, reflecting a position based in PA. Criteria such as the candidate’s qualifications and relevant experience, the scope of the specific position, as well as market and business considerations will be evaluated when extending an offer.

We Take Care of Our People

Paid Time Off I 401K with Employer Match and Profit Sharing I Health and Wellness Benefits I Learning and Development Opportunities I Referral Program I Competitive Pay I Recognition I Employee Stock Purchase Plan I Inclusive & Supportive Culture

Your Challenge

• Develop and execute the organization’s quality strategy aligned with business objectives and government program requirements while ensuring effective quality planning, verification, and inspection across the product lifecycle.

• Establish and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001 and contractual requirements, ensuring procedures, documentation, and records support regulatory and program compliance.

• Develop and document internal business processes across the Business Unit to ensure, through internal audit, consistent operations and smooth cross-functional transitions.

• Develop annual BU KPI targets with senior leadership and report performance monthly, leading corrective actions when targets are not met. Metrics include OTD, Late Backlog, Customer Quality, COPQ, SOTD, Utilization, Productivity, and Safety.

• Drive overall risk management process for the BU, including risk identification, mitigation and corporate reporting.

• Provide executive ownership of customer quality issues and escapes, ensuring immediate containment, cross-functional RCCA investigations, and closure of corrective actions with lessons learned applied across the organization.

• Lead the organization’s Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) system as the Six Sigma Black Belt leader, applying structured problem-solving (DMAIC, 8D) to eliminate systemic quality and operational issues.

• Ensure compliance with U.S. Government contract quality requirements, including FAR, DFARS, and applicable contract clauses, and serve as the primary quality interface with DCMA Quality Assurance Representatives (QARs) and other oversight authorities.

• Ensure robust metrology, calibration, and measurement system control, including traceability to national standards, measurement capability validation, and alignment of inspection strategies with product tolerances and process capability.

• Ensure effective configuration management across the product lifecycle, including baseline control, revision management, and traceability between engineering documentation, manufacturing processes, and delivered product.

• Establish and maintain supplier quality management processes, ensuring suppliers meet contractual flow-down and regulatory requirements.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and develop the quality organization through recruitment, training, and mentoring of engineers, supplier quality staff, and inspectors while promoting a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

What You Bring

• 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field.

• 5+ years of progressive experience with 2 years of quality management experience leading quality organizations in manufacturing environments.

• Experience supporting U.S. Government or defense-related programs (FAR/DFARS, DCMA) is preferred.

• Experience with managing business unit level KPIs, operational performance management, and cross-functional process standardization.

• Expertise in Quality Management Systems (ISO9001:2015).

• Strong Root Cause & Corrective Action analysis capability (8D, 5 why, fishbone, etc.).

• Advanced understanding of metrology systems, calibration management, and measurement capability (MSA, GR&R).

• Experience with supplier quality management.

• Senior leadership and executive level communication skills.

• Continuous improvement leadership using Lean / Six Sigma (Black Belt preferred).

• Ability to travel up to 15% to suppliers within the USA and reporting unit in France (1 week per quarter to support BU policies and implementation).

• Must be a US Person.

Who We Are

Our Values

Environmental, Social and Governance

Curtiss-Wright Arresting Systems / ESCO, a business unit of Curtiss-Wright's EMS Division, is a world leader in emergency arresting systems for military aircraft. With two facilities, located in Aston, PA (USA), and Gente, France, Curtiss-Wright Arresting Gear / ESCO specializes in land-based arresting systems.

For more information, please visit us at Curtiss-Wright EMS - Arresting Systems / ESCO (cw-ems.com)

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No unsolicited agency submittals please.  Agency partners must be invited to participate in a search by our Talent Acquisition Team and have signed terms in place prior to any submittal.  Resumes submitted directly to any Curtiss-Wright employee or affiliate will not qualify for fee payment, and therefore become the property of Curtiss-Wright.  

Compliance Statement

This position may require exposure to export-controlled information and subject to additional security screening.  In the event information provided during the security screening reveals ineligibility to access export-controlled information, any offer of employment may be reconsidered or withdrawn. 

Curtiss-Wright is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, legally protected medical condition, family care status, marital status, religion, veteran status, national origin, or any other legally protected status. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Talent Acquisition.

For US Applicants: EEO is The Law – click here for more information.

If you require accommodation due to a disability at any time during the recruitment and/or assessment process, please contact Talent Acquisition and we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.