Quality Engineer Lead

Job Description

What You’ll Do:

Bowden Manufacturing is seeking a Quality Engineering Lead who thrives in a hands-on, fast-paced, precision machining environment. In this role, you’ll bridge Quality and Engineering to strengthen Bowden’s manufacturing processes, ensure compliance with AS9100 and ITAR standards, and drive measurable improvements across production.

This position is ideal for a results-driven quality professional ready to take the next step into leadership—someone who’s comfortable on the shop floor, collaborative with engineering, and passionate about developing people and processes. You’ll have the opportunity to shape Bowden’s Quality System, mentor a growing team, and make a tangible impact on the company’s operational performance and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop Quality Technicians and Inspectors, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Partner with Engineering and Production teams to integrate quality engineering principles into product design, machining, and inspection processes.

Oversee and improve Bowden’s Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and ITAR requirements.

Drive root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to eliminate nonconformances and improve process control.

Lead internal and customer audits, and ensure prompt, effective closure of findings.

Analyze manufacturing data, scrap, and rework trends to identify and execute process improvement initiatives.

Support first article inspections (FAI), process validations, and customer documentation requirements.

Ensure proper calibration and maintenance of all inspection and measurement equipment.

Provide engineering support for tooling, fixturing, and inspection methods that improve efficiency and repeatability.

Serve as a key liaison with customer quality and engineering teams, ensuring communication, responsiveness, and technical alignment.

Qualifications

U.S. Citizenship required (due to ITAR regulations).

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or a related technical field preferred, relevant experience also acceptable.

5+ years of experience in Quality or Manufacturing Engineering within a manufacturing environment

Familiarity with AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards, including audit participation or coordination.

Strong understanding of CNC machining processes, GD&T, and blueprint interpretation.

Experience with quality tools such as FMEA, 8D, SPC, and Root Cause Analysis.

Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate team members while maintaining hands-on involvement.

Excellent problem-solving and communication skills with a collaborative approach to cross-functional teamwork.

Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic production setting.

Shift Schedule

This is a full-time, first-shift position. Standard hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with occasional overtime or extended hours during audits, key production runs, or project deadlines.

Why Join Bowden

At Bowden Manufacturing, you’ll join a team dedicated to craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement. We’re proud of our people-first culture and commitment to developing future leaders from within. In this role, you’ll have the autonomy to make impactful decisions, collaborate closely with leadership, and play a central role in advancing our mission of producing high-quality, precision components for aerospace and defense customers.

Full-time