Head of Quality

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of Quality is a senior leadership position responsible for establishing, implementing, and maturing all quality management functions across Atropos Group's development and production operations. This role is the company's primary quality authority and will serve as the central driver of the Production Approval process — leading the quality system infrastructure, processes, and organizational readiness required to achieve an FAA Production Certificate (PC). The Head of Quality will build and lead a high-performing quality organization from the ground up, shaping the culture, systems, and procedures necessary to support production certification activities, entry into service, and long-term operational excellence in a highly regulated aerospace environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FAA Production Certification & Regulatory Compliance

Serve as the company's primary quality authority and key point of contact for all FAA Production Certificate (PC) activities

Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) to satisfy FAA PC requirements under 14 CFR Part 21

Coordinate directly with FAA personnel and Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs) throughout the PC application and approval process

Develop and maintain the Production Approval Holder (PAH) quality manual, quality procedures, and associated command media in support of PC issuance

Support Type Certificate (TC) activities by ensuring that design-to-production traceability, conformity inspections, and first article evaluations are executed in compliance with FAA requirements

Monitor and interpret applicable FAA regulations, policy updates, and airworthiness directives for impact on quality processes and production readiness

Lead internal and external quality audits in support of FAA oversight, including responses to findings and implementation of corrective actions

Quality Management System (QMS) Development & Maintenance

Architect and implement a scalable, AS9100D-aligned QMS that supports both current development activities and future high-rate production

Establish and maintain the full suite of quality procedures, work instructions, and forms constituting the company's quality command media structure

Drive QMS integration across all functional areas including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management

Develop and maintain Quality plans for all major programs, ensuring appropriate inspection, verification, and validation gates are defined and executed

Own the internal audit program, including scheduling, execution, corrective action tracking, and management review inputs

Establish and monitor quality KPIs and metrics to provide leadership with visibility into system health and performance trends

Lead periodic Management Review processes and provide executive leadership with quality system status reports and improvement recommendations

Ensure seamless integration between the QMS and the company’s Safety Management System (SMS), establishing clear interfaces between quality processes and the four SMS components defined under 14 CFR Part 5 (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion)

Collaborate with the SMS program manager to ensure that nonconformance data, CAPA outcomes, and audit findings feed into the SMS Safety Assurance function, supporting hazard identification, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring obligations under Part 5

Support development of integrated QMS/SMS documentation architecture to avoid duplication, ensure traceability across both systems, and present a cohesive compliance posture to the FAA during PC and SMS acceptance activities

Production Quality & Nonconformance Management

Establish and lead all production quality functions including receiving inspection, in-process inspection, and final acceptance activities

Own and administer the Material Review Board (MRB) process, including disposition of nonconforming materials, components, and assemblies

Develop and implement robust nonconformance reporting (NCR) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes that drive root cause elimination

Ensure First Article Inspection (FAI) processes comply with AS9102 requirements and support the TC/PC certification record

Implement statistical process control (SPC) and other data-driven quality tools to monitor production process stability and capability

Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to establish and enforce inspection points, acceptance criteria, and product definition compliance checkpoints

Develop and maintain test and inspection records management systems to support airworthiness documentation and regulatory traceability

Supplier Quality Management

Establish and oversee the supplier quality program, including qualification, surveillance, and performance management for the approved supplier list (ASL)

Define and implement supplier quality requirements, flow-down clauses, and quality purchase order terms aligned with AS9100D and FAA regulations

Lead supplier audits and assessments, including delegation of Supplier Source Inspection where required

Manage supplier corrective action processes and ensure timely resolution of supplier-originated nonconformances

Collaborate with Supply Chain on supplier selection, risk assessment, and development initiatives to build a capable and compliant supplier base

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality organization scaled to meet the demands of the production ramp and PC certification milestones

Establish organizational structure, roles, and hiring plan for the quality function in alignment with the overall manufacturing headcount roadmap

Foster a culture of quality consciousness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire organization

Implement talent development programs, training curricula, and succession planning for key quality positions

Serve as a senior voice for quality in cross-functional forums, program reviews, and executive-level discussions

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Systems, or a related technical field required

Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or Business Administration preferred

Professional certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent highly desirable

Experience

Minimum 12 years of progressive quality experience, with at least 5 years in senior quality leadership roles within aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing

Demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting an FAA Production Certificate application and approval process

Deep working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 (Production Approval), Part 43, and related FAA regulatory frameworks governing production quality

Hands-on experience developing and implementing AS9100D-compliant QMS from an early-stage or startup manufacturing environment strongly preferred

Proven track record managing MRB authority, nonconformance disposition, and CAPA programs in a production environment

Experience conducting and managing internal and supplier quality audits, including corrective action follow-up

Background in First Article Inspection (AS9102), acceptance test procedures, and production conformity documentation

Familiarity with ITAR/EAR compliance requirements and their implications for quality records management and data handling

Technical Skills

Expert knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 Production Approval requirements and FAA PC certification processes

Strong working knowledge of AS9100D Quality Management System requirements and audit methodology

Familiarity with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements and conformity documentation standards

Proficiency with quality management tools including FMEA, SPC, Root Cause Analysis, and related methodologies

Experience with PLM and MES systems in a production environment; familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter or equivalent preferred

Strong analytical and data interpretation skills; ability to translate quality data into actionable insights for leadership

Leadership Competencies

Exceptional ability to build quality organizations and systems from early-stage foundations toward full production readiness

Strategic thinker who can balance near-term certification deliverables with long-term system maturity goals

Strong communicator and collaborator capable of engaging credibly with FAA personnel, executive leadership, and production teams alike

Decisive and technically grounded — able to make sound risk acceptance decisions under pressure

Change agent mindset with demonstrated ability to drive quality culture in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment

High integrity and attention to detail; models the standard of compliance and rigor expected of the broader organization

Effective mentor and people developer committed to building lasting organizational quality capability

WORKING CONDITIONS

Professional office and manufacturing environment; regular presence on the production floor expected as facilities come online

Domestic travel required (up to 20-30%) for supplier visits/audits, FAA meetings, and industry engagements

Initially remote with transition to on-site at Atropos manufacturing headquarters; exact location to be determined in connection with facility site selection

May require extended hours during critical certification milestones, audit preparation periods, or production launch activities

Must be authorized to work in the United States; ability to work with ITAR-controlled technical data required