Quality Assurance Lead - Ground Support Equipment (Onsite)

Date Posted: 2026-09-21 Country: United States of America Location: US-CT-WINDSOR LOCKS-B1 ~ 1 Hamilton Rd ~ BLDG 1 Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract. Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required Security Clearance Status: Not Required At Collins Aerospace, we're solving some of the world's toughest aerospace and defense challenges through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality. As the GSE Quality Assurance Lead, you'll play a critical leadership role ensuring the quality, compliance, and reliability of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) supporting military and commercial aerospace customers around the globe. GSE supports a wide variety of military and commercial Power & Controls products worldwide both through internal and external suppliers.  Recently, GSE has expanded into Landing Systems and Cargo business units providing various test equipment and sustainment support.  GSE’s key processes include quote and delivery of transactional tooling, strategic depot standup projects, test equipment, portable testers and entry into service programs. The GSE QA Lead supports all facets of these diverse processes throughout the life cycle of the project up to and including final delivery to the end customer.  The GSE QA Lead is responsible for maintaining the Quality Management System (ISO 9001). What You Will Do Lead and develop the GSE Quality team, providing daily direction, work assignments, coaching, training, performance management, and employee development. Own and maintain the GSE Quality Management System (ISO 9001), ensuring ongoing compliance and continuous improvement. Serve as the primary quality representative for customers, addressing quality concerns and driving timely resolution of issues. Partner with internal engineering, procurement, operations, and supplier teams to ensure quality requirements are achieved throughout the product lifecycle. Conduct supplier source inspections, audits, and quality validations for complex Ground Support Equipment and test systems. Lead supplier corrective action activities by identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, and driving sustainable improvements. Manage the internal audit program while supporting customer, DCMA, certification body, and other external quality audits. Lead quality review boards, Corrective Action Board (CAB) meetings, Management Reviews, and executive quality reporting. Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, quality metrics, defect trends, escapes, scrap, rework, and repair data to drive measurable improvements. Review and approve quality aspects of engineering drawing changes, product releases, and Engineering Change activities. Support customer returns, nonconformance investigations, and onsite supplier quality activities to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction. Champion Lean, CORE, and continuous improvement initiatives while driving enhancements to standard work, business processes, and overall operational excellence. Qualifications You Must Have Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience Experience supporting Quality Assurance, Supplier Quality, or Quality Engineering within a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industry. Ability to travel as needed for the role - 30% anticipated. Qualifications We Prefer Experience supporting Ground Support Equipment (GSE), aerospace tooling, test equipment, sustainment, or aftermarket programs. Experience performing supplier audits, source inspections, or supplier quality management activities. Knowledge of DCMA requirements and customer quality expectations within the aerospace and defense industry. Certified Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor for ISO 9001 or AS9100. Experience with Lean, CORE, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies. What We Offer Some of our competitive benefits package includes:    Medical, dental, and vision insurance   Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees   Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option   Tuition reimbursement program  Student Loan Repayment Program   Life insurance and disability coverage   Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection  Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits  Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning   Adoption Assistance            Autism Benefit   Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions   Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program  Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits   Bright Horizons, child and elder care services  Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program    And more!   May be eligible for relocation. We make modern flight possible for millions of travelers and our military every second.  Our major product lines are on-board virtually every aircraft flying. Be it keeping passengers safe with our emergency power generation systems or creating a positive in flight experience through reliable cabin pressure controls and quieter engines, Power & Controls focuses on delivering a best-in-class experience to our customers. We hire the top people in the industry. Their ideas drive our performance, and their integrity keeps our customers happy. Join us as we take flight!  Role type definition: Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they