Head of Quality & Build Reliability

Hermeus • Atlanta, GA

116d • $187,000 - $253,000

About The Position

Hermeus is a venture capital-backed aerospace and defense technology company focused on building high-speed products that sustainably deliver asymmetric advantage to the Department of Defense and allied partners. We are seeking a hands-on, pragmatic, and technically astute Head of Quality & Build Reliability to lead the development and execution of quality assurance processes that ensure our aircraft and unmanned systems are built to Department of Defense standards, and positioned for successful FAA certification and field operation. This individual will be based full-time at our Atlanta, GA production facility and will lead a high-performing, lean team of quality professionals to enable rapid development, manufacturing, and delivery of complex aerospace systems. This position owns the development and sustainment of a digital Quality Management System (QMS) and is responsible for maintaining compliance with AS9100, ISO9001, ISO27001, and relevant FAA regulations (e.g., Part 21, 23, 91, 135). The ideal candidate will partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain to lead quality reviews, address production nonconformances, and embed quality into the design, build, and sustainment lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of quality and reliability experience in aerospace, defense, or UAV sectors, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated success operating in DoD-regulated production environments, with knowledge of FAR/DFARS, MIL-STDs, and DCMA processes.
• Hands-on experience implementing or maintaining AS9100, ISO9001, and ISO27001 compliant QMS.
• Experience supporting FAA aircraft certification or production approvals—preferably for unmanned or novel aircraft systems.
• Direct experience with field returns, sustainment quality, and lifecycle service tracking.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or similar ASQ certification.
• Experience with digital QMS and e-QMS platforms.
• Experience managing FAA conformity and airworthiness inspections.
• Experience with field data acquisition, telemetry analysis, and reliability prediction tools.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity-related quality (e.g., DFARS 252.204-7012 compliance).

Responsibilities

• Design and operate a digital QMS that supports traceability, scalability, and compliance to AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 27001.
• Lead audit readiness, surveillance audits, and maintain compliance with internal and external quality requirements.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), manage NCR processes, and continuously improve internal quality performance.
• Build and maintain systems required to support FAA Type Certification, Production Certification, or Operational Approval for unmanned systems.
• Establish and enforce quality standards across internal manufacturing and final assembly, including receiving inspection, in-process inspections, and final vehicle release.
• Partner with Production and Engineering to improve yield, minimize rework, and implement standard repair processes.
• Provide oversight of special processes (welding, bonding, coatings, NDE) to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Oversee supplier quality activities including audits, surveillance, source inspection, and incoming inspection requirements.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action with suppliers to reduce escape rates and improve upstream quality.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Test (DFT), and serviceability through close partnership with Engineering.
• Influence configuration management and product definition to improve traceability, buildability, and sustainment support.
• Collaborate on field return assessments and design feedback loops to improve durability and support.
• Lead or support conformity inspections and FAA production readiness activities under Part 21, Part 23, Part 91, or Part 135.
• Ensure documentation traceability and build integrity to meet requirements for airworthiness release, flight test, and operational deployment of UAVs.
• Maintain audit trails and inspection records to support aircraft certification and production authority.
• Build, lead, and mentor a small, high-output team of quality engineers, inspectors, and reliability specialists.
• Foster a culture of accountability, action, and cross-functional integration rather than siloed gatekeeping.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health care
• 401k & retirement plans
• Unlimited PTO
• Weekly paid office lunches
• Fully stocked breakrooms
• Stock options
• Paid Parental Leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees