Senior Manager, Quality & Compliance

DescriptionWe are seeking a senior, hands‑on Quality leader to take ownership of our Quality Management System and lead critical upgrades to our manufacturing and compliance infrastructure. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of quality systems, manufacturing execution, and cross‑functional collaboration, and who is motivated by building strong, scalable processes in a technically complex environment.This position has real authority and visibility, reporting directly to the COO and partnering closely with Product Development and Manufacturing Engineering teams. The successful candidate will play a central role in ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational discipline as Patton continues to grow.Key ResponsibilitiesQuality Management System LeadershipOwn and continuously improve the company’s Quality Management System (QMS)Lead certification progression from ISO 9001:2015 to AS9100 Rev D (or latest revision)Serve as the primary quality representative for internal and external auditsEnsure QMS alignment with contractual, regulatory, and industry requirementsManufacturing Quality & WorkmanshipLead the upgrade of manufacturing operations to IPC J‑STD‑001 Class 3 workmanship standardsEstablish and oversee Incoming Inspection processes for:Electronic components and assembliesFabricated and machined partsImplement and maintain end‑to‑end traceability for electronics and fabricated parts (lot, serial, build history)Corrective Action & Continuous ImprovementTake ownership of all Internal Corrective Actions (ICARs), customer complaints, and Opportunities for Improvement (OFIs)Drive root cause analysis, containment, corrective action, and verification of effectivenessAnalyze quality data and trends; report key metrics to executive leadershipCross‑Functional Engineering SupportPartner closely with: Product Development and Manufacturing Engineering Services (NPI, sustaining engineering, manufacturability, component engineering, PCB design support)Ensure quality requirements are embedded early in design and introduced effectively into production Supplier Quality & ComplianceLead Supplier Qualification and Approval processesEnsure effective flow‑down of quality and contractual requirementsParticipate in supplier audits, performance reviews, and corrective action activitiesGovernance & Organizational ParticipationSupport compliance with customer contracts and quality clauses (e.g., inspection, traceability, change control)Serve as a core member of the Material Review Board (MRB), Safety Committee and Cross‑functional quality and risk review teamsQualificationsRequiredBSEE, BSCE, BSCS, or Bachelor of Science in another related technical field (or equivalent experience)8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing qualityDemonstrated ownership of an Hands‑on experience with audits, corrective action systems, and customer interactionISO 9001 and/or AS9100 QMS Auditor experienceSolid understanding of manufacturing processes (electronics manufacturing strongly preferred)PreferredDirect experience implementing or maintaining AS9100 Rev DIPC J‑STD‑001 Class 3 certification or leadership of a Class 3 implementationAerospace, defense, or high‑reliability electronics experienceLead Auditor certification (ISO 9001 / AS9100)Experience in environments with strong customer flow‑down requirementsWhy This RoleDirect impact on company quality, compliance, and reputationExecutive visibility and influence (reports directly to the COO)Collaborative, engineering‑driven environment with real ownershipOpportunity to lead meaningful system upgrades and improvements