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What is a director of quality & engineering and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Yi Yang PhD

This professional is responsible for deliberating with other staff on the requirements and procedures for a project. He/She ensures that the project complies with the company's quality requirements and those of the client and regulatory bodies. The director of quality and engineer develops and reviews standards and policies for all the departments related to the project. He/She evaluates technology, organizational resources, and market demands to plan the project procedures. Apart from this, he/she consults with clients to arrange for resources needed for a project. Also, he/she coordinates and assists with vendor inspection. Additionally, he/she prepares reports and other documents for clients and stakeholders.

To get this job, you need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. You must also have experience in project management. Essential skills for this position include communication, organization, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. You must be proficient in Microsoft Office, and certifications are also beneficial. Your salary on average will be $174,086 yearly.

What general advice would you give to a director of quality & engineering?

Yi Yang PhDYi Yang PhD LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

For new graduates beginning their careers in engineering, I would advise them to consider the broader impact of their work and look for opportunities to expand their management potential. While engineering is a highly technical field, it's important to recognize the value of leadership roles in preserving a culture of innovation. By taking on these positions, you can help ensure that companies prioritize long-term innovation over short-term gains (cutting R&D to boost the balance sheet), thus preserving the engineering culture that drives meaningful progress.
ScoreDirector Of Quality & EngineeringUS Average
Salary
8.7

Avg. Salary $140,891

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 16.16%

Black or African American 2.99%

Hispanic or Latino 8.46%

Unknown 4.61%

White 67.61%

Gender

female 15.07%

male 84.93%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Director of quality & engineering career paths

Key steps to become a director of quality & engineering

  1. Explore director of quality & engineering education requirements

    Most common director of quality & engineering degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.8 %

    Master's

    20.1 %

    Associate

    6.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of quality & engineering skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Quality Engineering11.19%
    Continuous Improvement7.16%
    Product Quality5.82%
    QA5.07%
    Java4.85%
  3. Complete relevant director of quality & engineering training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of quality & engineering learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of quality & engineering based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of quality & engineering resumes.
  4. Research director of quality & engineering duties and responsibilities

    • Define, develop and implement a manage cloud services architecture approach that is based on modular processes and continual integration/deployment interactions.
    • Perform 3rd party audits for GMP and ISO on vendors and other companies doing business with Kodak.
    • Serve as team leader for the ISO implementation group that drive all the preparations for qualification.
    • Work as a billable resource for a number of high-name clients providing QA, automation, and software development consultative services.
  5. Get director of quality & engineering experience

    Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a director of quality & engineering. The most common roles before becoming a director of quality & engineering include quality assurance manager, quality manager team lead and manager, quality engineer.
  6. Prepare your director of quality & engineering resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of quality & engineering resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of quality & engineering resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of quality & engineering resume templates

    Build a professional director of quality & engineering resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of quality & engineering resume.
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
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    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
    Director Of Quality & Engineering Resume
  7. Apply for director of quality & engineering jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of quality & engineering job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of quality & engineering job

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Average director of quality & engineering salary

The average director of quality & engineering salary in the United States is $140,891 per year or $68 per hour. Director of quality & engineering salaries range between $98,000 and $201,000 per year.

Average director of quality & engineering salary
$140,891 Yearly
$67.74 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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