Aequs is Hiring For Quality Head - Aero Engine

Quality Head - Aero Engine Components

Function: Quality Assurance & Quality Management

Location: Initially in Belgavi and then to Banaglore

Experience: 15+ Years Overall Experience with 10+ years in Aero Engine / Aerospace Manufacturing Quality and at least 5 years in Quality Leadership or Managerial role.

Educational Qualification

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgy, or equivalent.
• Master's Degree preferred.
• CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, Lead Auditor, AS9100 Auditor certifications preferred.

Role Summary

The Quality Head will be responsible for defining and driving the overall quality vision, strategy, and execution for Aero Engine Component manufacturing operations. The role will ensure compliance with aerospace regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and industry standards while promoting a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and zero-defect manufacturing. The incumbent will lead quality assurance, quality control, supplier quality, customer quality, and quality systems functions across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Systems & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead, maintain, and continually improve the Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP, and customer requirements.
• Drive successful completion of internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure compliance with Aerospace OEM quality requirements including Rolls-Royce, Safran, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, HAL, and other customer standards.
• Establish quality policies, objectives, KPIs, governance mechanisms, and management review processes.
• Review and approve quality documentation including FAIR, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, Inspection Plans, and Quality Procedures.
• Ensure adherence to product safety, configuration management, and regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

Product & Process Quality

• Lead product quality assurance and process quality activities across manufacturing operations.
• Develop robust quality control plans to ensure product conformity and process capability.
• Drive implementation of SPC, MSA, Process Capability Studies, Statistical Analysis, and Risk-Based Quality Management systems.
• Lead investigations and resolution of major product and process non-conformities through RCA, 8D, CAPA, and corrective action programs.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), industrialization, and process qualification activities.
• Oversee First Article Inspection (FAI), source inspection, final inspection, and release activities for aero engine components.

Customer Quality Management

• Act as the primary quality interface with customers and regulatory agencies.
• Lead customer audits, quality reviews, and customer complaint resolution activities.
• Ensure timely closure of customer concerns through effective root cause analysis and preventive actions.
• Drive customer satisfaction initiatives and maintain superior customer quality performance.
• Present quality performance, risk mitigation plans, and improvement strategies to customer leadership teams.

Supplier Quality Management

• Develop and drive supplier quality strategy and governance.
• Lead supplier qualification, approval, audits, improvement programs, and supplier performance management.
• Review supplier PPAPs, validation reports, FAIRs, and special process qualifications.
• Partner with suppliers to improve quality, capability, delivery performance, and compliance.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop Quality Managers, Engineers, Inspectors, Auditors, and Supplier Quality teams.
• Build a strong quality culture focused on Right First Time (RFT), accountability, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop competency-building programs for aerospace quality standards, auditing techniques, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Foster strong collaboration between Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Program Management teams.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Monitor and improve key quality metrics including PPM, COPQ, Scrap, Rework, Audit Findings, Customer Complaints, OTD, and Supplier Performance.
• Drive strategic quality improvement projects focused on defect reduction, capability enhancement, and cost optimization.
• Establish preventive quality systems through lessons learned, best practice deployment, and risk management frameworks.

Required Technical Competencies

• AS9100 & Aerospace Quality Systems
• NADCAP Compliance & Audit Management
• APQP, PPAP & FAIR
• PFMEA & Control Plans
• SPC, MSA & Capability Studies
• GD&T & Engineering Drawings
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• 8D & CAPA Methodologies
• Product Qualification & Validation
• Special Process Control
• NPI & Industrialization Quality
• Supplier Quality Management
• Quality Risk Management

Preferred Technical Knowledge

Hands-on knowledge of aerospace special processes and manufacturing operations such as:

• Heat Treatment
• Welding
• Brazing
• Surface Treatments
• Anodizing & Plating
• Coatings
• Shot Peening
• NDT (FPI, MPI, UT, RT)
• Precision Machining
• CMM Inspection & Metrology Systems
• Aero Engine Component Manufacturing

Leadership Competencies

• Quality Strategy & Governance
• Customer Relationship Management
• Supplier Development & Performance Management
• Team Leadership & Mentoring
• Executive Communication & Presentation Skills
• Stakeholder Management
• Change Management
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Business Acumen & Risk Management