Quality Lead - Defence

CRA designs and manufactures custom-engineered systems for the Energy and Defence sectors. We deliver complex projects end-to-end, entirely in-house — combining design, engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. Our systems are trusted by leading organisations including BrahMos Aerospace, ONGC, Indian Airforce, and Schlumberger. Role Overview

As Quality Lead, you will be driving inspection standards, technical compliance, and quality outcomes across CRA's manufacturing operations. You will bring deep subject-matter expertise in defence-sector quality requirements, taking ownership of quality on defence programmes and acting as the technical escalation point for complex inspection, testing, and compliance issues. You will report into the Quality function head, supporting the ISO 9001:2015 QMS and audit programme within your area.

This role is suited to an experienced quality professional with strong hands-on expertise in defence-sector quality standards, who can lead a team, drive technical rigour on the shop floor, and represent quality on defence programmes with clients and auditors.

• Lead and supervise a team of Quality Inspectors, overseeing in-process and final inspection of components and assemblies
• Act as the technical expert on defence-sector quality, testing, and certification requirements, guiding the team on compliance for defence programmes
• Define and enforce inspection standards, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria across structural, tank & pressure vessel fabrication, CNC/VMC components, and welded assemblies
• Oversee the NDT programme — Dye Penetrant Testing, Radiography Testing, Ultrasonic Testing — and ensure compliance with EPC and client-specific testing requirements
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for non-conformities within your area
• Support the Quality function head in ISO 9001:2015 QMS documentation, internal audits, and external audit preparation
• Maintain calibration records and inspection documentation for your team's scope of work
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (5S, Kaizen, Lean) within the team
• Represent quality on defence programmes in client and auditor interactions, escalating to the Quality function head as needed
• Coordinate with production, design, and engineering teams to resolve quality issues and drive compliance
• Mentor and develop Quality Inspectors, building technical capability across the team

Requirements

Benefits