Head of Aircraft Quality (R6146)

The role

You will lead quality for the X-BAT aircraft, from prototype builds through production launch and rate production. You will build the aircraft quality organization for the new Seattle-area production facility, X-Forge 3.

What you will do

• Lead quality planning and execution for X-BAT prototype and development builds.
• Identify product and process risks with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering and define critical controls.
• Establish configuration and traceability controls with Engineering and Production.
• Capture lessons from build, integration and test issues and drive them into design and process changes.
• Define quality readiness criteria for pre-series builds and production launch.
• Recruit, develop and lead the quality team.
• Establish and maintain a lean QMS for X-Forge 3 aligned with AS9100, ISO 9001 and customer requirements.
• Lead certification readiness and internal, customer and external audits.
• Own production quality performance and lead containment, root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Own the nonconformance and MRB process and work with Supply Chain on supplier quality.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, quality or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in quality, product assurance or reliability within aerospace, defense technology or high-reliability manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success leading quality through prototype or new product introduction and into sustained production.
• Proven ability to build and scale quality teams and systems.
• Deep expertise in containment, root cause analysis, MRB, corrective and preventive action, and continuous improvement.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 with practical implementation and audit leadership experience.
• Experience with complex assembly, inspection, configuration control, traceability and product acceptance.
• Ability to influence and challenge senior leaders across Engineering, Production and Supply Chain.
• A hands-on leadership style and sound technical judgment.

Nice to have

• Direct experience taking a new aircraft program from prototype through production launch and rate ramp.
• Experience establishing quality capability at a new manufacturing facility or transferring production between sites.
• Experience in aircraft final assembly, systems integration, production test and reliability improvement.
• Experience deploying digital quality systems, statistical process controls and data-driven defect prevention.
• Advanced degree in engineering, quality or a related technical discipline.

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees, applicable after 60 days of employment.

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Pay depends on factors including skill set, experience, licences and certifications, and work location.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company that protects service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.