Director, Quality Assurance (Clearance Required)
Sierra Space · Louisville, CO
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $202k–$277k
- Travel
- 40%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level quality role at Sierra Space (aerospace & defense) in Louisville, CO. The Director of Quality Assurance will drive enterprise-wide quality initiatives, influence strategic business decisions, and build scalable systems that support growth, profitability, and operational performance.
- They ask for
- degree required (or equivalent experience) · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, CAPA, ISO 9001
- Base pay
- $202k–$277k
- Day to day
- about 40% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Colorado: typical posted base $86k–$130k. This one lists $202k–$277k.
Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 28 quality engineer openings in Colorado, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Colorado plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 27 other live quality postings in Colorado.
- Base pay
- About 140% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $79k–$120k, from 19 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 61%
- ✓ Six Sigma 43%
- ✓ ISO 9001 39%
- ✓ AS9100 32%
- Supplier quality 32%
- ✓ Lean 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Sierra Space
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting says about 40% travel. Between which sites?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Sierra Space in Louisville
2 other open roles at this site.
- Manufacturing Engineer III · Manufacturing · Senior
- Manufacturing Engineer I · Manufacturing
Full description from Sierra SpaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the Role
The Director of Quality Assurance serves as the senior quality leader responsible for defining and executing the organization’s quality vision, strategy, and culture. This role is accountable for ensuring world-class product quality, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction across all aspects of the business.
As a key member of the leadership team, the Director of Quality Assurance will drive enterprise-wide quality initiatives, influence strategic business decisions, and build scalable systems that support growth, profitability, and operational performance. The successful candidate will be a transformational leader with deep aerospace industry expertise, exceptional business acumen, and a proven ability to lead high-performing teams through complex challenges.
About You
Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission.
We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum
qualifications
below. The
preferred qualifications
are a bonus, not a requirement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Responsibilities
- ◆Develop and execute a long-term quality strategy aligned with corporate objectives, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
- ◆Serve as the organization’s quality authority and trusted advisor to executive leadership.
- ◆Champion a culture where quality, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement are embedded throughout the organization.
- ◆Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Executive Leadership to drive business performance through quality excellence.
- ◆Lead organizational change initiatives that improve product reliability, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- ◆Establish meaningful quality metrics and performance indicators that drive data-based decision making at all levels of the organization.
Qualifications
- ✓Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).
- ✓The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
- ✓Proven track record of successfully managing large teams and complex projects.
- ✓Deep knowledge of quality management systems, regulatory
requirements
(FDA, ISO, GxP), and industry standards with ability to ensure organizational compliance and product integrity.
- ✓Strong communication and influence skills to interact effectively with internal leadership, regulatory agencies, auditors, and stakeholders on quality assurance matters.
- ✓Experience leading quality assurance functions including product release, deviation/CAPA management, change control, validation, and audit management.
- ✓Demonstrated experience with risk management, quality investigations, and root cause analysis methodologies.
- ✓Travel: 20–40% as required to support customers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, and multiple operating locations.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.
- ✓ASQ CMQ/OE, CQE, Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent certifications.
- ✓Experience supporting OEM, defense, military, or space programs.
- ✓Experience leading multi-site quality organizatio
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Sierra Space Careers
At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.
Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.
Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.
We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.
Quality Systems & Compliance
- •Provide executive oversight of the Quality Management System and ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, DoD, customer, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- •Lead customer, regulatory, certification, and third-party audits while maintaining exceptional compliance performance.
- •Ensure effective risk management processes are integrated throughout product development, manufacturing, and supplier management activities.
- •Drive proactive quality planning and prevention strategies that minimize defects and operational risk.
Operational Excellence
- •Lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies.
- •Drive measurable improvements in first-pass yield, cost of quality, supplier performance, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
- •Establish robust root cause and corrective action processes that eliminate recurring issues and strengthen organizational capability.
- •Partner with operations leadership to improve manufacturing performance and scalability.
Customer Leadership
- •Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and regulatory stakeholders.
- •Serve as the point of contact for significant quality issues, customer concerns, and strategic quality initiatives.
- •Represent the company during customer reviews, audits, and executive-level quality discussions.
Talent Development
- •Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing quality organization capable of supporting current and future business needs.
- •Foster leadership development, accountability, and continuous learning throughout the quality function.
- •Create succession plans and organizational structures that support sustainable growth.