Quality Lead - Safety Management System (SMS)

Role Overview

The SMS Lead will be responsible for the development, implementation, and sustainment of the Safety Management System (SMS) for GE Aerospace Avionics sites in Grand Rapids, MI and Clearwater, FL. Partnering with Plant Leadership, Quality Operations, and Product Safety teams, this role drives a proactive-to-predictive approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating product safety risks; strengthening product safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance, and harmonizing SMS activities within the broader Quality Management System (QMS) / Business Management System (BMS).

Roles and Responsibilities

• Safety Management System Implementation (Policy) - Lead the development, training, implementation, and maintenance of the organizations SMS in alignment with the Enterprise SMS team and industry best practices. Ensure SMS documentation is accurate, accessible, and maintained.
• SRM Safety (Risk Management) - Facilitate risk identification, analysis, and mitigation in collaboration with site product Safety Action Team (SAT) / groups and product Safety Review Boards (SRBs).
• Incident Investigation & Reporting (Risk Management) - Prepare and submit product safety performance reports to the accountable Site Leaders, Quality Leaders, SRB, and Enterprise SMS team.
• Compliance and Auditing (Safety Assurance) - Monitor site-level compliance with applicable Enterprise SMS policies. Conduct regular product safety audits and inspections to ensure adherence to SMS requirements.
• Management of Change (Safety Assurance) - Support product Safety Risk Management within Change Management initiatives.
• Training and Awareness (Product Safety Promotion) – Collaborate (with site partners) to provide SMS and Human Factors training to all Avionics employees. Continually promote product safety awareness and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaboration and Communication (Product Safety Promotion) – Facilitate the distribution of product safety information. Drive initiatives to enhance product safety performance and reduce risks. Act as the liaison between site-level operations and the Enterprise SMS team on matters pertaining to product safety. Collaborate with other GE Aerospace sites to share lessons learned and address systemic issues or concerns. Facilitate communication and collaboration across all levels of the GE Aerospace Enterprise (e.g., other MRO shops, other Part 21 shops, etc.) to ensure alignment with SMS objectives.
• Performance Monitoring and Improvement (Continuous Improvement) - Track and analyze product safety performance metrics to identify trends and areas for improvement (driving a proactive approach to SRM). Facilitate the independent review of investigations and Just Culture. Support customer and regulatory audits.
• FLIGHT DECK (Continuous Improvement) - Implement GE Aerospace’s FLIGHT DECK standards such as daily management, standard work, and problem-solving tools like APPS and PSRs. Ensure this standard for working across teams, enabling performance and supporting the business operating system. Utilize FLIGHT DECK tools to align, harmonize, and modernize SMS approaches within the wider Avionics QMS / BMS.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (or a high school diploma / GED with at least 7 years of experience in Quality)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing Quality, ideally with Safety Management Systems, Quality systems, and Quality process management

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of SMS experience within avionics manufacturing environments
• Strong computer and technical writing literacy
• QMS audit experience
• SMS and/or Product Safety certifications
• Formal experience and training in Product Safety
• Experience using problem-solving root cause analysis tools
• Effective communication skills (both written and spoken) and the ability to interact at all levels, including leadership, regulatory representatives, and customer / operator representatives
• Experienced organizer and analyst of product safety data and information
• Ability to exercise role flexibility
• Ability to work under one’s own initiative, while supporting the overall, matrixed team structure
• Pragmatic approach to decision-making, with the ability to account for the wider business picture
• Ability to assimilate information quickly and make fact-based decisions

Note:

• This role is specific to Product Safety and is separate from the EH&S domain. The role is designed as a function within the Quality Organization.
• Preferred location is Grand Rapids, MI (open to Clearwater, FL as a secondary option).

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).