Director of Quality

Description

Position Summary

Kratos designs and manufactures low- and medium-voltage power distribution equipment for some of the largest data center and industrial customers in North America. As a vertically integrated, engineer-to-order manufacturer, quality is created through disciplined execution at each step of the value stream—from engineering through customer delivery.

The Director of Quality is responsible for building and leading a world-class quality organization that improves the quality of outputs at every stage of the value stream to ensure consistently high-quality finished products. This role develops the methods, capabilities, and culture required to prevent defects, improve process capability, and deliver consistent execution from suppliers through final test.

Success requires a hands-on leader with a bias for action who partners with peers to solve problems at their source, builds accountability through data, and helps every function improve the quality of its work. This leader drives root cause problem solving, develops practical quality methods, and ensures quality is built into every process rather than verified at the end.

Primary Responsibilities

Operational Quality Leadership

• Lead all quality functions including Supplier Quality, Incoming Inspection, In-Process Quality, Final Inspection, Test Quality, Quality Engineering, and Corrective Actions.

• Develop and execute a multi-year quality strategy aligned with Kratos growth objectives and operational goals.

• Establish clear quality metrics, targets, and accountability systems that drive measurable business performance.

• Partner with Operations leadership to improve process capability, reduce variation, and eliminate recurring defects.

• Drive quality ownership across all functions and ensure accountability resides where issues originate.

Problem Solving and Corrective Action

• Lead rigorous root cause investigations utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies.

• Ensure corrective actions address true root causes and prevent recurrence.

• Develop organizational capability in root cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Review recurring issues, identify systemic failures, and drive sustainable solutions.

Supplier Quality Management

• Develop and lead a robust supplier quality strategy.

• Establish supplier performance metrics and accountability processes.

• Drive supplier corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Partner with Supply Chain to improve supplier selection, qualification, and performance management processes.

• Reduce incoming defects and improve supplier responsiveness.

Manufacturing and Process Quality

• Ensure quality requirements are effectively integrated into manufacturing processes.

• Support development and implementation of standard work, process controls, inspection plans, and quality checkpoints.

• Drive initiatives that improve first-pass yield, reduce rework, and improve schedule execution.

• Utilize quality data and trend analysis to identify improvement opportunities and operational risks.

Customer Quality and Field Performance

• Lead customer quality issue resolution efforts.

• Establish processes for identifying and addressing field failures and customer complaints.

• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into engineering, manufacturing, and supplier improvement activities.

• Drive continuous improvement in customer satisfaction and product reliability.

Quality Systems and Compliance

• Maintain an effective Quality Management System that supports operational excellence and customer requirements.

• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable customer requirements.

• Utilize audits as a tool for improvement rather than a compliance exercise.

• Ensure quality systems scale effectively with company growth and operational expansion.

Key Performance Indicators

• First Pass Yield

• Cost of Poor Quality

• Customer Escapes

• Supplier Defect Rate

• NCR Closure Effectiveness

• Corrective Action Closure Cycle Time

• Rework Hours

• Warranty and Field Failure Rates

• Customer Satisfaction

• Audit Findings and System Compliance

Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related technical field.

· 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience in complex manufacturing.

· Demonstrated success improving product quality by building organizational capability and driving measurable business results.

· Strong knowledge of quality engineering, statistical methods, process capability, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and Lean manufacturing.

· Experience leading ISO 9001 quality systems in a manufacturing environment.

· Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive sustainable business change.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing quality organization.

• Create a culture of ownership, urgency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Develop future leaders within the quality function.

• Build strong cross-functional relationships that drive collaboration and business results.

• Maintain a visible presence throughout manufacturing operations and supplier interactions.