About Us
Airborne Engines Ltd. is a helicopter engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility based in Delta, British Columbia. Established in 1991, we are approved by Transport Canada and EASA and authorized by Rolls-Royce and Ozark Aeroworks to support the M250, RR300 and T53 engine product lines.
Airborne Engines has received the Rolls-Royce First Class Service Award several times and is a subsidiary of M International, a U.S.-based aerospace group. Our team averages 19 years of industry experience.
We operate in a clean, modern and technically demanding environment where precision, discipline and accountability are essential. The quality of our work directly affects aviation safety and the people who rely on the products we return to service.
About the Role
The SQMS Manager reports to the Director of Quality and owns the day-to-day management of Airborne Engines’ integrated Safety and Quality Management System (SQMS). You’ll own the internal audit program, control the SQR process from intake to closure, oversee training and authorization compliance, and keep the SQMS audit-ready at all times.
You’ll work with managers across Operations, Engineering and other departments to make sure SQMS requirements are applied consistently and that commitments are met. Responsible managers keep ownership of their SQRs, risks and corrective actions. You’ll set the standard for those submissions, approve or return them, drive follow-up and escalate overdue or inadequate actions to the Director of Quality.
The role has no permanent direct reports at this time. You’ll coordinate internal and contract auditors and act on behalf of the Director of Quality for assigned SQMS activities. This role suits someone who takes full ownership, uses sound judgment and holds others accountable through disciplined follow-up and constructive influence.
What You’ll Do
Own the Internal Audit Program
- Develop, maintain and deliver the annual internal audit schedule against the MPM, applicable regulations, standards and company procedures.
- Plan and conduct internal audits, document objective evidence and issue audit reports.
- Select and coordinate qualified internal and contract auditors, and review their findings for quality and consistency.
- Track findings, corrective actions and effectiveness reviews through to verified closure.
- Lead preparation, coordination and follow-up for external audits by regulators, OEMs and customers.
Manage SQRs, Risk and Corrective Actions
- Own the SQR process: intake, vetting, classification, assignment and progress through the risk-management lifecycle.
- Guide managers through investigations, risk assessments, root-cause analysis, action plans and effectiveness reviews.
- Approve, or return for rework, SQR submissions that don’t meet the required standard of evidence and analysis.
- Analyze SQR and audit data to identify trends, recurring issues and weak controls, and report significant concerns to the Director of Quality.
Manage SMS Activities
- Coordinate safety plans, objectives, performance indicators and safety communications.
- Organize Management Reviews: prepare SQMS performance reporting, record decisions and track actions to completion.
- Manage Management of Change activities and support upkeep and exercising of the Emergency Response Plan.
Oversee Training and Authorizations
- Own the administration of training roles, recurrent requirements, training records and authorization records within the SQMS.
- Monitor compliance, notify managers of upcoming, overdue or incomplete requirements, and escalate persistent gaps.
- Recommend improvements to training and authorization requirements based on compliance data and audit results.
Control SQMS Information
- Manage review, approval, revision and distribution of SQMS procedures, forms and supporting documents.
- Keep electronic and physical records organized, traceable and audit-ready in line with access, retention and disposition requirements.
- Act as the main point of contact for SQMS workflows, document status and system questions.
Drive Continuous Improvement
- Report SQMS performance to the Director of Quality and senior leadership on a regular basis.
- Identify and lead improvements to SQMS processes, tools and systems.
What We’re Looking For
Required
- 3 or more years of experience in quality assurance, auditing, compliance, safety management or corrective-action management in aviation, aerospace or another regulated environment.
- Proven ability to plan and lead internal audits and write clear, defensible audit reports.
- Hands-on experience with at least three of the following: nonconformance management, investigations, risk assessments, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, training compliance or controlled documentation.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage multiple processes, owners and deadlines without direct supervisory authority.
- Sound judgment and the confidence to challenge inadequate responses and escalate concerns.
- High attention to detail and the ability to keep complete, accurate and traceable records.
- Clear professional writing and communication skills, and the ability to influence employees and managers at all levels.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and the ability to learn electronic quality, safety, training and document-management systems.
Preferred
- Experience in an aviation maintenance or aerospace manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, particularly the requirements for Approved Maintenance Organizations.
- Working knowledge of AS9110, ISO 9001 or another recognized quality-management standard.
- Training or experience in Safety Management Systems, Human Factors, risk management or root-cause analysis.
- Post-secondary education in quality, safety, aviation, engineering technology, business administration or a related field.
- Experience with electronic QMS, SMS, learning-management or document-control software.
- Experience leading or coordinating the work of others.
