Head of Aircraft Quality (R6146)

Shield AI•Seattle, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a hands-on quality leader to oversee the X-BAT aircraft from early prototype builds through production launch and into rate production. This role involves building the aircraft quality organization and establishing the quality capability for the new Seattle-area production facility, X-Forge 3. The position owns product and process quality across all build phases, ensuring that development lessons are translated into effective controls as the program scales. Key responsibilities include managing the Quality Management System, quality engineering, inspection, nonconformance management, and audit readiness for the X-BAT manufacturing operation. The role requires close collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain to prevent defects, resolve issues, and ensure aircraft meet technical, customer, and regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate is a technically credible leader capable of building scalable systems, making sound decisions under pressure, and constructively challenging senior stakeholders while driving execution.

Requirements

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 while supporting fast-paced development and manufacturing operations.
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 constructively across Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain.
A hands-on leadership style and sound technical judgment, balancing timely execution with clear quality standards and accountability.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Build quality into prototype and launch phases, leading quality planning and execution for X-BAT prototype and development builds, establishing appropriate inspection, test evidence, and build records.
Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to identify product and process risks, define critical controls, and integrate quality requirements into tooling, work instructions, and test plans.
Establish configuration and traceability controls with Engineering and Production to document each aircraft’s build status, deviations, and nonconformances.
Capture lessons learned from build, integration, and test issues, and drive their incorporation into design changes, manufacturing processes, and future builds.
Define quality readiness criteria for pre-series builds and production launch, validating inspection methods, process controls, workforce competence, and closure of significant risks.
Establish the Seattle quality operation by recruiting, developing, and leading the quality team, building technical capability and frontline support.
Establish and maintain a lean, effective QMS for X-Forge 3, aligned with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable customer requirements.
Lead certification readiness and internal, customer, and external audits, driving timely closure and sustained effectiveness of corrective actions.
Set up receiving, in-process, and final inspection capability, including measurement equipment, calibration, training, and quality records.
Own production quality performance, using metrics like first-pass yield, defects, rework, and escapes to focus actions that improve aircraft quality and production flow.
Lead containment, root cause analysis, and corrective action for manufacturing quality issues, ensuring functional ownership and verification of fixes.
Own the nonconformance and Material Review Board (MRB) process, ensuring disposition decisions follow approved technical authority and affected hardware remains controlled.
Partner with Supply Chain and supplier quality teams to resolve incoming quality issues and improve supplier performance.
Work with Engineering and Production to define acceptance evidence and ensure aircraft meet approved requirements before release.
Utilize digital quality tools and manufacturing data to strengthen traceability, expose trends, and reduce manual administration.
Provide leadership with a clear view of quality performance, product risks, and readiness; escalate or stop affected work when requirements or product integrity cannot be assured.