Atropos

Atropos

Head of Quality

Arlington, Virginia

No sponsorship$20k-$30kDetected 85 days ago
ComplianceAuditingSupply ChainPerformance ManagementMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringLeadershipInternal Audit

About the role

  • 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.

Responsibilities

  • Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) to satisfy FAA PC requirements under 14 CFR Part 21
  • 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
  • Lead internal and external quality audits in support of FAA oversight, including responses to findings and implementation of corrective actions
  • 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
  • Lead periodic Management Review processes and provide executive leadership with quality system status reports and improvement recommendations

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Systems, or a related technical field required
  • 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
  • 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
  • Familiarity with ITAR/EAR compliance requirements and their implications for quality records management and data handling
  • Domestic travel required (up to 20-30%) for supplier visits/audits, FAA meetings, and industry engagements
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States
  • ability to work with ITAR-controlled technical data required
  • Professional certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent highly desirable
  • Hands-on experience developing and implementing AS9100D-compliant QMS from an early-stage or startup manufacturing environment strongly preferred
  • Background in First Article Inspection (AS9102), acceptance test procedures, and production conformity documentation

Nice to have

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

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
  • 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
  • High integrity and attention to detail; models the standard of compliance and rigor expected of the broader organization
  • Professional office and manufacturing environment; regular presence on the production floor expected as facilities come online
  • Leadership Competencies

Compensation

  • $20k-$30k

Benefits

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

Visa & Work Authorization

  • Must be authorized to work in the United States; ability to work with ITAR-controlled technical data required
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This listing is sourced directly from Atropos's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.