Quality Control Manager

Advanced Navigation is the world’s most determined innovator in AI robotics and navigation technologies across land, air, sea and space applications. Founded on a culture of research and discovery, Advanced Navigation's mission is to be the catalyst of the autonomy revolution. Fields of expertise include artificial intelligence, underwater sonar, GNSS, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, robotics, quantum sensors and photonics. 

Today, Advanced Navigation is a supplier to some of the world's largest companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Google, Tesla, NASA, Apple, and General Motors. Discover it for yourself: https://youtu.be/F7uAqs1gtuk

About the Role

As the Global Quality Manager, you will hold ultimate accountability for the implementation, and continuous improvement of our Quality Management Systems (QMS) across our Australian headquarters and international facilities. Operating within the high-stakes defence sector, you will champion robust systems and end-to-end processes across the business, ensuring our products consistently meet the highest standards of reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality Leadership

QMS Governance: Maintain a unified QMS across all end-to-end business processes, ensuring the entire organizational ecosystem stands the rigor of systems compliant with AS9100 (Aerospace) and defence-specific standards. 

Regulatory & Defence Compliance: Serve as the primary point of contact for defence compliance audits and customer quality assurance representatives.

Culture of Excellence: Champion a culture of zero-defect and continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma) across the entire product lifecycle—from initial design to final deployment.

2. Design & Engineering Quality Assurance

Design Controls: Partner with Engineering teams to oversee design verification, validation, and risk management processes (DFMEA/PFMEA).

Hardware & Electronics Integrity: Provide expert quality oversight on complex electronics engineering projects, including PCB/PCBA manufacturing, component traceability, and environmental testing.

Software Quality Integration: Oversee Software Quality Assurance (SQA) frameworks, ensuring that embedded software and firmware development align with rigorous defence and industry-standard software engineering practices 

3. Operational & Supply Chain Quality

Manufacturing Quality: Drive manufacturing process controls, root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys), and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) on the production floor.

Global Supply Chain Auditing: Manage the global supplier quality assurance program, ensuring international component suppliers meet stringent defence requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a highly related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience within a joint design and manufacturing organization, with a focus on complex electronic systems.
• Defence Sector Expertise: Proven track record operating within the defence sector, with an understanding of defence procurement, security protocols, and military standards.
• Quality Management Systems: Extensive experience designing, implementing, and managing QMS certified to ISO 9001 standards and a strong understanding of AS9100. 

Desirable Criteria (Advantage)

• Software Development Background: Experience with or exposure to software development processes, Agile methodologies, or managing Quality Assurance for embedded software/firmware.
• Global Experience: Experience managing quality teams or supply chains across multiple international jurisdictions.
• Certifications: Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Lead Auditor certification, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.

Key Competencies

• Technical Authority: Ability to confidently challenge and validate engineering design decisions and manufacturing processes.
• Global Collaboration: Exceptional communication skills tailored for cross-functional teams, international stakeholders, and military personnel.
• Analytical Mindset: Data-driven approach to tracking Quality Performance Indicators (KPIs) and cost of poor quality (COPQ).

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