Head, Quality

Ghost Robotics Corporation•Philadelphia, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Ghost Robotics is the industry leader in legged robotic systems that not only help our customers solve complex operational, national security, and technical challenges to save lives, reduce harm and improve outcomes. About the Role We are hiring a Head of Quality to build and lead our quality function from the ground up. This is not a role where you inherit a mature system and maintain it. You will design the quality management system, stand up the processes, lead the organization through ISO 9001 certification, and create the framework that scales with a growing robotics company serving government and commercial customers globally. You will report directly to the CTO and work at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and field operations. You will be the senior quality authority in the organization, accountable for certification outcomes, nonconformance resolution, supplier quality governance, and translating quality data into business risk language for the executive team. This role is hands on and strategic. You will manage non-conformance operations directly while building the team and systems that allow the quality function to operate with increasing independence. You will own the supplier quality framework, establish quality metrics, and ensure field quality findings feed back into design and manufacturing. You will also provide leadership to quality and test management staff, setting expectations and driving accountability across the function.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive quality management experience in a manufacturing environment producing complex electromechanical systems, with at least 5 years in a senior quality leadership role.
Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or government contracting is required.
Demonstrated experience building and implementing a QMS from the ground up or leading a major QMS transformation. We are looking for someone who has stood up quality systems, not solely maintained them.
Direct experience leading an organization through ISO 9001 certification, including serving as the primary point of contact for third party and customer audits.
Proven track record managing nonconformance processes, root cause analysis frameworks, and corrective/preventive action systems at scale.
Experience establishing and governing supplier quality programs across domestic and international supply chains, including qualification criteria, audit cadence, and approved supplier list management.
Working knowledge of government and industrial quality frameworks, including CE marking and MIL spec alignment where applicable.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence at the executive level and across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, or a related technical field is required.
ISO 9001 certification is required.

Nice To Haves

A Master's degree is preferred.
ASQ CQM, CQE, or CQA certification is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with ITAR compliance requirements and how they intersect with quality documentation and processes.
Understanding of CMMC and NIST SP 800 171 cybersecurity frameworks as they relate to quality system documentation in defense environments.
Experience with counterfeit parts prevention programs and configuration management practices for complex hardware/software systems.
Experience working with robotics, mechatronic systems, computer networking, electrical engineering, or related technical domains.
Proficiency in SPC, MSA, process capability studies, and control chart methodologies.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and quality management software platforms.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and govern the quality management system for complex electromechanical robotic systems, ensuring compliance with government and defense standards.
Serve as the certification authority for ISO 9001 audit readiness, compliance, and successful certification outcomes.
Lead a culture of quality across the organization by establishing expectations, behaviors, and accountability mechanisms that integrate quality thinking into every function.
Own compliance strategy across government and industrial quality frameworks, including CE marking and MIL spec alignment where applicable, ensuring the quality program scales with evolving customer and regulatory requirements.
Build and govern the supplier quality framework, including qualification criteria, audit cadence, approved supplier list governance, and corrective action escalation authority across domestic and international supply chains.
Provide strategic oversight of the RMA resolution process, ensuring coordination across repair and reliability teams and ensuring root cause findings drive improvements in design, manufacturing, and supplier quality.
Establish the quality metrics framework and translate quality data, audit findings, defect trends, and field failure information into executive level reporting.
Own the nonconformance process, including final disposition authority and corrective action closure, and manage NCR operations directly until the function is fully staffed and systematized.
Develop and execute quality strategies with annual objectives aligned to financial, customer, process, and organizational goals.
Oversee the audit process, address findings, and maintain governance of quality management documentation in accordance with applicable standards and certification requirements.
Build, lead, and develop the quality team with a focus on increasing capability, accountability, and strategic impact over time.