Head of Quality

Atropos•Arlington, VA

4d•Remote

About The Position

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.

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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
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
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
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
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