Job Title - Head - Quality (The incumbent will be in charge of the Quality function in the company)

Location: Lonikand, Pune, India

Reporting to: Managing Director

Experience: 15-20 years

Education: Graduate in Engineering (Mechanical / Production / Automotive preferred)

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Head - Quality to lead our Quality function and drive excellence across suppliers, in-house operations, and customer collaboration. This individual will provide strong leadership to a young team, build robust quality systems, and work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure high customer satisfaction and world-class quality standards.

As part of a multi-national organization, this role requires a global mindset and the ability to work seamlessly with stakeholders across different countries.

Additionally, with New Product Introduction (NPI) being a key driver of organizational growth, the QA Manager will play a critical role in ensuring flawless product launches, working closely with customers and internal teams to embed quality into the NPI lifecycle from design validation through to serial production.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead the Quality Assurance and Quality Control function across supplier base, in-house processes, and customer interface.

- Establish, implement, and sustain quality management systems (QMS) aligned with global OEM requirements.

- Drive supplier quality development programs, including audits, APQP, PPAP, and corrective action management.

- Ensure robust in-process quality controls for machining, assembly, leak testing, and final performance testing.

- Monitor and improve CTQ parameters with strong statistical process control (SPC), Cp/Cpk analysis, and problem-solving.

- Champion digitization and Industry 4.0 quality practices.

- Build strong customer relationships, acting as a key interface for quality performance reviews, issue resolution, and new product quality planning.

- Partner with global stakeholders across multiple countries to align quality processes, reporting, and improvement actions.

- Lead quality planning and validation in NPI projects, ensuring customer requirements, APQP milestones, and PPAP deliverables are met without delays.

- Develop and mentor a young quality team, instilling a culture of ownership, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

- Collaborate with Engineering, Production, Materials, Sales, and Sourcing to proactively address quality issues and deliver value.

- Lead internal and external audits (ISO, IATF 16949, customer audits)

- Drive a culture of Zero Defect and Lean Quality in the organization.

Technical Skill Sets (Must-Have):

- Strong foundation in Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001).

- Expertise in APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and SPC.

- Proven experience with supplier quality management and customer-facing quality.

- Proficiency in statistical tools (Cp, Cpk, SPC, 8D, root cause analysis, problem-solving techniques).

- Knowledge of precision machining processes, assembly systems, leak/performance testing.

- Experience with digitized measurement systems, traceability solutions, and Industry 4.0 quality practices.

- Familiarity with casting, bearings, seals, gears, and other automotive components.

- Hands-on experience in process audits, layered process audits (LPA), and continuous improvement methodologies (Kaizen, Six Sigma, Lean).

- Strong knowledge of NPI processes, APQP milestones, and flawless launch practices.

- Proficiency with quality data analysis tools (Minitab, MS Excel, ERP-based QA modules).

Personal Traits (Leadership & Behavioral):

- Strong leadership presence with the ability to mentor, inspire, and build a high-performance team.

- Customer-centric mindset with excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

- Go-getter attitude with high energy, initiative, and ability to influence stakeholders across functions.

- Analytical and detail-oriented, capable of making data-driven decisions.

- Collaboration skills across functions and geographies - able to align Engineering, Production, Sales, Sourcing, and Materials towards common quality goals.

- Global mindset - adaptable to working with international teams, diverse cultures, and multinational customers.

- Resilient problem-solver with a proactive approach to challenges.

- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding manufacturing environment.

- Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.