Quality Manager – UAS Manufacturing

Heven AeroTech•Sterling, VA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Manager owns the AS9100D Quality Management System (QMS) for Heven AeroTech's UAS manufacturing operations. This role leads all quality assurance and control activities, including inspection, configuration management, product release, and internal audits, to ensure compliance with aerospace standards and customer requirements. The position operates independently from Production and has the authority to stop production if quality or compliance risks are identified. The Quality Manager will be responsible for building and scaling the quality organization to support high-rate defense and commercial UAS manufacturing. The role is based in Sterling, VA during Year 1 to support production launch and QMS implementation, and then transitions to the Winchester, VA facility in Year 2.

Requirements

8+ years in aerospace, UAS, defense, or safety-critical quality manufacturing.
Direct experience with AS9100 (or equivalent: EN9100, AS9110, AS9120) quality systems, including configuration control/traceability and issuing release documentation (e.g., CoCs).
Experience managing inspection teams and leading internal quality audits (planning, evidence gathering, nonconformance identification, and closure).
Formal AS9100-accredited Internal Auditor training, completed or obtained within 90 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience with regulated, contract-driven, or export-controlled manufacturing programs.
Track record scaling quality systems in fast-growth environments.
Experience with customer auditors or government representatives.
Active Lead Auditor certification (IRCA or Exemplar Global AS9100) and Internal Auditor certificate.

Responsibilities

Establish, implement, and continuously improve the AS9100D QMS, including quality procedures, inspection plans, work instructions, and nonconformance processes.
Partner with Engineering on Design and Development processes that meet AS9100 requirements.
Own configuration management (revision control, effectivity, serial traceability) and document control/records required for AS9100 compliance.
Lead the internal audit program — planning, auditor training, execution, reporting, and corrective action follow-up — and serve as the organization's Lead Auditor.
Coordinate customer, regulatory, and third-party quality audits.
Build and lead the inspection team (incoming, in-process, and final assembly), establishing inspection criteria for structural, avionics, propulsion, and hydrogen system components; verify compliance with approved configurations prior to release.
Validate traceability documentation, issue Certificates of Conformance, and hold product acceptance/release authority.
Own the Nonconformance Report (NCR) system: containment, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions.
Partner with Supply Chain on supplier quality performance, nonconformances, and corrective actions.
Track and report quality metrics (first-pass yield, defect rates, on-time delivery, supplier performance, customer satisfaction) and drive process improvements with Engineering and Production to reduce quality escapes.
Directly manage Incoming, In-Process, and Final Assembly Quality Inspectors, while maintaining Quality's independence from Production and Engineering.