Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Manager

Job Title: Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Manager

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Relocation Opportunity)

Reporting to: Head of Advanced Manufacturing

Job Purpose:

A leading aerospace and propulsion technology company based in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Metrology, Inspection & Product Quality Manager to lead inspection and metrology strategy across advanced propulsion programs, including turbofan, microjet, and piston engines. This role combines technical leadership in inspection and measurement systems with product quality authority, ensuring supplier qualification, product approval, and inspection readiness from new product introduction through serial production.

Key Responsibilities:

Inspection Technology Strategy & Capital Investment

• Define and lead the organization's inspection and metrology technology roadmap aligned with propulsion program requirements.
• Lead capital investment planning for advanced inspection technologies, including:
• Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM)
• Optical inspection systems
• Laser scanning technology
• Industrial CT systems
• In-process gauging solutions
• Inspection automation technologies
• Ensure inspection technology decisions during New Product Introduction (NPI) support quality, cost, and production rate objectives.
• Define metrology laboratory and incoming inspection facility requirements and support implementation.

Product Approval & Quality Governance

• Serve as final approval authority for supplier product approval submissions across propulsion programs.
• Govern review and approval of supplier APQP submissions, including:
• Process flows
• PFMEA documentation
• Control plans
• Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
• Review and approve Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) packages and authorize serial production release.
• Govern First Article Inspection (FAI) approvals in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Assess supplier compliance with quality requirements and report approval trends and risks.
• Maintain approval gates and ensure technical integrity of quality decisions.

NPI, FAI & Industrialization

• Own inspection and metrology activities throughout the NPI lifecycle, from prototype through production release.
• Define:
• Inspection concepts
• Datum strategies
• Tolerance verification methods
• Measurement plans
• Ensure inspection processes are capable, repeatable, and production-ready.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to define and deploy key characteristics.

Non-Conformance & Change Management

• Lead material review processes and disposition activities during NPI.
• Govern supplier concessions, deviations, and corrective action submissions.
• Support Supply Chain on product approval and configuration-related quality issues.
• Coordinate implementation of engineering changes across suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure configuration traceability and product approval status are maintained across the supplier base.
• Represent the function on Change Control Boards.

Design for Inspectability & Supplier Readiness

• Influence product designs to improve inspectability, tolerance schemes, and datum strategies.
• Participate in design reviews and tolerance trade studies.
• Identify and mitigate inspection-related risks early in the development cycle.
• Lead supplier inspection readiness activities during NPI.
• Review and approve supplier inspection plans and gauging strategies.
• Define incoming inspection methods, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria.
• Conduct or direct source inspection and product verification activities where required.

Leadership & Governance

• Build, lead, and mentor teams across:
• Metrology Engineering
• Inspection Engineering
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Product Quality Engineering
• Establish inspection, product approval, and governance procedures aligned with aerospace quality requirements.
• Act as the organization's focal point for inspection, metrology, and product approval activities.
• Report product approval status, first-pass yield, inspection capability, and quality metrics to executive leadership.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated authority-level experience approving: APQP submissions, PPAP packages, First Article Inspection (FAI) reports
• Strong expertise in: GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing), Datum systems, Measurement uncertainty, Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA), Inspection capability assessment
• Working knowledge of: Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process capability studies, Structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience managing non-conformance, material review, concession, and corrective action processes.
• Strong understanding of configuration and change management within regulated engineering environments.
• Sound knowledge of manufacturing processes including: Machined components, Sheet metal fabrication, Cast aerospace components
• Experience working with suppliers, inspection equipment vendors, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to make critical product approval decisions while balancing quality, schedule, and commercial considerations.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in: Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Metrology Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in: Aerospace inspection, Metrology, Product quality engineering, Supplier quality, Industrialization
• Proven experience leading inspection systems through: New Product Introduction (NPI), First Article Inspection (FAI), Production readiness activities
• Experience building or scaling inspection and product approval functions is highly desirable.
• Experience working within regulated aerospace or advanced manufacturing environments.

Key Skills:

• Expertise in aerospace quality standards including: AS9100, AS9102, AS9145
• Strong understanding of: Inspection planning, Product approval processes, Metrology strategy, Quality management systems
• Knowledge of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) qualification frameworks and special processes.
• Ability to assess supplier manufacturing and quality submissions at a technical level.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and team development capabilities.
• Exceptional analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage executive stakeholders.

Relocation support to Abu Dhabi is available for exceptional international candidates.