Quality Control Manager

📍 Tres Cantos, Madrid

At Morgan Philips, we are partnering with our client Thales Alenia Space, a global leader in the space industry, to recruit an experienced Quality Control Manager.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a quality professional who will lead Quality Control activities within a technologically advanced manufacturing environment, ensuring that products and processes meet the highest standards of quality, reliability and compliance required for space programmes and critical systems.

The successful candidate will oversee quality control operations, drive continuous improvement initiatives and collaborate closely with production, engineering and project teams to guarantee the successful delivery of complex space products in line with customer and regulatory requirements.

The Opportunity

As Quality Control Manager, you will be responsible for leading and coordinating Quality Control activities across manufacturing operations, ensuring compliance with quality standards, safety requirements and customer expectations.

You will act as a key interface between Production, Engineering, Product Assurance and Programme Management teams, supporting operational excellence while maintaining the highest levels of product quality and process performance.

The role requires strong leadership capabilities, technical expertise and a continuous improvement mindset to ensure quality objectives are achieved within demanding production environments.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to advanced space programmes and work with cutting-edge technologies within an international and highly regulated industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise daily Quality Control activities across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, customer requirements and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Monitor, evaluate and improve quality control processes to ensure product conformity and manufacturing excellence.
• Support production teams in maintaining quality and operational performance objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce non-conformities and optimize quality performance.
• Coordinate quality inspections, testing activities and verification procedures throughout the manufacturing process.
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality and operational standards.
• Identify quality risks and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Analyse quality performance indicators and implement improvement plans when necessary.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Production and Product Assurance teams to resolve technical and operational issues.
• Manage and develop Quality Control teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Ensure quality objectives, production milestones and customer requirements are achieved within established deadlines.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Your Background

We are looking for an accomplished quality professional capable of combining operational leadership, technical expertise and continuous improvement methodologies within a complex industrial environment.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Quality Control, Manufacturing Quality, Product Quality or related leadership positions.
• Experience within the space, aerospace, defence, electronics manufacturing, telecommunications or other highly regulated industries will be highly valued.
• Strong knowledge of quality control methodologies and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with autonomous production techniques, soldering assembly and electrical testing environments.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Operational Excellence programmes.
• Proven experience leading teams and managing quality-related activities.
• Ability to analyse quality indicators and implement corrective actions.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and quality assurance processes.
• Proficiency in quality and production management tools and software.
• Fluent English is mandatory due to the international nature of the role.
• Knowledge of French and/or Italian would be considered an advantage.

Candidates from sectors such as space, defence, aerospace, satellite communications, electronics manufacturing, transportation or critical infrastructure may also be relevant when they have managed quality control operations within highly technical and regulated environments.

What Will Make You Successful

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple functions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Methodical and detail-oriented approach.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and effectively in operational environments.
• High level of resilience and adaptability under pressure.
• Continuous improvement mindset and commitment to operational excellence.
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Curiosity, proactivity and willingness to continuously learn and develop.
• Strong customer focus and quality-oriented thinking.
• High level of accountability, ownership and results orientation.

Why Join Thales Alenia Space?

Thales Alenia Space is a Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), delivering advanced space solutions for more than 40 years across telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures.

Joining the company means becoming part of a global organization that develops some of the world's most advanced space technologies while supporting missions that help connect, protect, observe and explore our planet and beyond.

The successful candidate will benefit from:

• Leadership responsibility within a critical Quality Control function supporting advanced space programmes.
• Exposure to cutting-edge technologies and complex manufacturing environments.
• Flexible working hours, with a schedule between 8:00 and 9:30 and end-of-day flexibility.
• Hybrid working model.
• Free and healthy on-site canteen.
• Access to Thales Concilia benefits and employee support programmes.
• Exclusive discounts through Club Ahorro.
• 22 working days of annual leave, 6 personal days and additional company closure days during Christmas and Easter.
• Thales Flex flexible compensation programme.
• Annual bonus.
• Fixed profit-sharing bonus.
• Employee share ownership programme (Sharing Thales).
• Pension plan with company contributions.
• Wellness initiatives, employee clubs and wellbeing programmes.
• Medical and physiotherapy services at the workplace.
• Individual learning and development opportunities.
• Inclusive, respectful and multicultural working environment.
• International career development opportunities across a global organization with approximately 8,900 employees in 10 countries.

At Thales Alenia Space, we provide careers and not only jobs. Our teams contribute to groundbreaking technological achievements that help build a more connected, secure and sustainable future.

If you are ready to lead Quality Control activities, drive operational excellence and contribute to the success of world-class space programmes, we would like to hear from you.

Great journeys start here. Apply now.