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Deputy QA/QC Manager, Heavy Industrial
Little Rock, AR | $130,000 - $150,000 Per Year | Full-Time, Direct Hire

A heavy industrial manufacturing organization in Little Rock, Arkansas specializing in steel, pipe, and coating production is seeking a Deputy Head of QA/QC and Technical Services to serve as the hands-on operational quality leader for its plant operations. This position reports directly to the Head of QA/QC and Technical Services and carries responsibility for translating quality strategy into daily plant execution across manufacturing, coating, laboratory, NDT, document control, product release, and compliance functions. The role requires regular presence on the manufacturing floor, direct engagement with customers and third-party inspectors, and periodic reporting to executive leadership.

Schedule: Full-time, on-site in Little Rock, Arkansas. 

Compensation: $130,000 - $150,000 Per Year

What You'll Do

Day-to-day quality operations leadership is the core of this role. You will direct QA/QC activities across manufacturing, coating, laboratory, NDT, document control, and product release, resolving quality bottlenecks, testing delays, release priority conflicts, rework activities, and production quality concerns as they arise. Maintaining discipline around inspection, testing, traceability, and customer compliance requirements is a standing expectation.

On the quality systems and compliance side, you will ensure the facility meets API, ISO, customer, and regulatory requirements. You will drive nonconformance reporting, corrective and preventive action, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives, and you will be responsible for maintaining documentation in a state of audit readiness at all times. Supporting customer and third-party inspections is a regular part of the position.

Inspection, testing, and product release are managed through this role. You will oversee raw material, in-process, and final inspection programs and ensure that product release documentation and material test certifications are accurate and delivered on schedule. Supporting laboratory, NDT, calibration, coating inspection, and testing activities is part of the daily scope.

Customer and third-party interface is a significant component. You will serve as a primary contact for customer inspections, audits, technical reviews, and quality investigations, and you will lead complaint investigations and corrective action responses. Supporting customer approvals, project qualification requirements, and technical clarifications is expected on an ongoing basis.

As the facility grows, you will support quality readiness for new manufacturing capabilities, product qualifications, customer approvals, and process control implementation. Ensuring that new production lines and technologies are integrated successfully while preserving certification and customer requirements is a key accountability.

On the leadership and development side, you will build and manage a quality organization that includes quality managers, engineers, supervisors, inspectors, laboratory personnel, NDT technicians, and document control staff. This includes developing competency matrices, training plans, certification programs, and succession pipelines. You will act on behalf of the Head of QA/QC and Technical Services when delegated.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Welding Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
• 10 or more years of quality leadership experience in steel, pipe, coating, welding, heavy manufacturing, or other process-driven industrial environments
• 5 or more years leading plant-level QA/QC operations
• Proven experience managing customer-facing quality programs in regulated manufacturing environments
• Strong working knowledge of API Q1, API 5L, ISO 9001, or comparable specification-driven quality systems
• Experience with quality assurance plans, inspection and test plans, welding procedures, process controls, and product release documentation
• Working knowledge of NDT methods including UT, RT, AUT, hydrotesting, dimensional inspection, coating inspection, and mechanical testing

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with MES, ERP, SPC, and data-driven quality management tools including NCR/CAPA workflow platforms and quality dashboards
• Formal certification in quality management (CQE, CQM, or equivalent from ASQ or a comparable body)
• NDT certification (ASNT Level II or Level III) in one or more applicable methods
• Experience supporting API Q1 or ISO 9001 certification audits as the lead quality representative
• Track record of building or restructuring plant-level quality organizations from the ground up

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation details to be confirmed with the employer prior to posting
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan 
• Paid time off
• Full-time, direct hire placement

To apply, submit your resume through this posting. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly for an initial conversation.