Senior Operations Quality Manager

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Senior Operations Quality Manager to join our Operations Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead the day-to-day execution and continued maturation of our Quality Management System while ensuring every vehicle shipped meets the highest standards of reliability, traceability, and performance. As production volume increases and product complexity evolves, you will ensure our quality systems scale with the business—from supplier qualification through manufacturing, deployment, and fleet operations. We are looking for a hands-on technical leader who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives disciplined follow-through, and has a proven track record of independently executing in fast-paced hardware environments. The Operations Team is responsible for manufacturing, deploying, and sustaining Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles. We build and maintain the operational infrastructure required to support global maritime domain awareness in a national security and defense environment. Quality sits at the center of this effort—bridging manufacturing and field service to ensure issues are identified early, root causes are resolved thoroughly, and feedback loops are closed quickly. This role works across Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, and Technical Operations to maintain rigor as we scale.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressive experience leading quality engineering or manufacturing quality teams within complex hardware environments (Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, or Robotics preferred).
• Direct experience operating within ISO9001 and/or AS9100D certification environments, including lead roles in audit readiness and documentation control systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in defect tracking, RCCA, CAPA, and statistical process control (SPC) within a manufacturing setting.
• Proven ability to analyze complex hardware failures and drive cross-functional alignment between Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production under time pressure.
• Experience implementing NPI quality frameworks such as APQP/PPAP and supporting DFM/DFR initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with high proficiency in Excel (SQL and/or Python preferred).
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and quality governance in regulated or defense-adjacent industries.
• Ability to work effectively in an on-site manufacturing environment in Alameda, CA, with the flexibility to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Mature and scale the Quality Management System (QMS) to support ISO9001 and/or AS9100D compliance, overseeing internal/external audits, documentation controls, and traceability systems to meet rigorous certification requirements.
• Establish and manage company-wide quality KPIs (e.g., First Pass Yield, defect rate, cost of quality) and reporting dashboards to provide the Operations leadership team with clear visibility into production and fleet performance.
• Own the root cause analysis (RCCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes , leading containment efforts and driving durable systemic improvements whenever quality escapes occur.
• Integrate quality gates across the full product lifecycle, from supplier qualification and incoming inspection through final assembly, deployment, and ongoing fleet support.
• Partner with Engineering on NPI quality planning, supporting Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Reliability (DFR) initiatives while ensuring robust APQP/PPAP frameworks.
• Drive operational excellence through data, applying Statistical Process Control (SPC), Lean principles, and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, mitigate risks, and increase throughput.
• Collaborate with Technical Operations Engineers to analyze fleet performance trends and drone troubleshooting data, bridging the gap between field service and manufacturing to drive corrective actions upstream.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing quality organization, fostering a culture of accountability, technical rigor, and disciplined execution in a high-growth environment.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
• Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Stock Options
• Annual stipend for continued learning and development
• Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
• Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level