Project Quality Manager (m/w/d)

About the Role

Airbus Defence and Space is looking for a Project Quality Manager (m/f/d) to support the Quality Defence Digital & Cyber department. Quality is a key success factor for the development, delivery, and operation of complex defence and security systems. As a Project Quality Manager, you will be responsible for quality and compliance assurance of demanding defence and security programmes throughout the entire product lifecycle. You will act as a central interface between customers, authorities, program teams, and industrial partners, making a significant contribution to the successful implementation of our missions.

Location

The role is based at the Airbus site in Immenstaad am Bodensee, a hub for the future of Connected Intelligence, Space, and Air Power. You will contribute to technological innovations across domains in an environment that fosters foresight and exchange with experts in satellite technology, military aviation, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, Combat Cloud, and Ground Support.

Your Responsibilities

• Represent quality interests to national and international customers, procurement authorities, and regulatory bodies, ensuring contractual, regulatory, and safety/reliability requirements are met.
• Accompany programmes and projects from the offer phase through development, production, integration, in-service support, and end-of-life, ensuring quality requirements are embedded early and sustainably.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of project and development processes, identify risks and deviations, and actively drive measures to ensure quality, deadlines, and costs.
• Analyze quality, performance, and reliability data, derive insights, and develop sustainable improvement measures with relevant departments.
• Conduct root cause analyses for quality events, coordinate corrective and preventive actions, and ensure their effective implementation.
• Support product changes, design modifications, and process adjustments through quality assessments, ensuring risks are adequately considered and managed.
• Plan, create, and implement quality management plans and monitor their adherence throughout the program duration.
• Promote the application of modern quality and program excellence methods (e.g., APQP, Risk Management, Lessons Learned, Continuous Improvement) and drive their implementation in projects.
• Support anomaly, deviation, and special release processes, assess their impact, and support informed decision-making.
• Ensure the availability and traceability of quality-relevant documentation and verify compliance with customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Support program and milestone reviews, consolidate quality-related risks, and monitor the implementation of effective mitigation measures.
• Monitor the conformity status of products and systems regarding contractual, legal, and aviation law requirements, and support related evidence and certification activities.
• Participate in audits, assessments, and certifications, and support collaboration with external quality and approval authorities and industry organizations.
• Analyze customer complaints and operational quality events, initiate improvements, and contribute to increasing operational readiness, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
• Foster a quality-oriented culture and recognize quality as an integral success factor for the performance and availability of defence-related systems.

What You Bring

• A successfully completed degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable field.
• Several years of professional experience in quality management, ideally within complex development, defence, aviation, or space programmes.
• Experience collaborating with program and project teams and a good understanding of program and risk management.
• Knowledge of relevant quality and management systems, particularly ISO 9001, EN 9100, or AQAP standards.
• Experience in planning, conducting, and supporting audits, and evaluating processes and management systems.
• Knowledge of established development and process frameworks such as CMMI, V-Modell, or similar methods.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to structure complex issues and communicate them appropriately.
• Initiative, assertiveness, and the ability to drive change and improvements in a complex stakeholder environment.
• Enjoyment of interdisciplinary collaboration in an international environment and a willingness to continuously learn.
• Fluent German and English (written and spoken).

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in the Defence or Aerospace environment.
• Knowledge of the AQAP-2000 series and military procurement and certification processes.
• Experience with APQP, Root Cause Analysis, Risk Management, and Continuous Improvement methods.
• Knowledge in Software Quality and Systems Engineering.

Benefits

Airbus offers fair compensation and extras, including attractive remuneration and individual benefits such as company pension schemes, mobility offers (e.g., bicycle leasing), and employee benefits with partner companies. You'll have 30 days of annual leave (35h/week) and support for work-life balance through flexible working hours, mobile working, part-time options, job sharing, and sabbaticals. Excellent further training opportunities and international development perspectives are available. The company provides a positive work environment with a company doctor, comprehensive health offerings, a canteen, and a kindergarten on site. Diversity is celebrated, with over 140 nationalities fostering exchange and support.