Senior Quality Assurance Manager
About The Position
The Senior Manager of Quality Assurance (QA) at Teal Drones is responsible for leading end-to-end product validation across hardware, firmware, and software systems. This role owns the full verification lifecycle—from early prototype testing through production release—ensuring all drone platforms meet performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory requirements. This leader will build and manage a high-performing QA organization responsible for flight testing, software validation, firmware verification, and hardware validation (mechanical + electrical). The role is critical to delivering mission-ready UAS platforms for both defense and commercial applications.
Requirements
- 10+ years in QA, validation, or test engineering (UAS, aerospace, robotics, or similar)
- 5+ years in leadership or management roles
- Deep experience with: Flight testing and system validation, Embedded systems and firmware testing, Software QA methodologies (automation preferred)
- Strong understanding of mechanical and electrical system validation
- Experience with test tools, telemetry systems, and data analysis
Nice To Haves
- Background in UAS or aerospace systems
- Experience working with defense programs or ruggedized systems
- Familiarity with: HIL/SIL environments, RF systems and communications validation, Environmental and MIL-STD testing
Responsibilities
- Own and lead all flight testing operations across development and production phases
- Develop structured test plans, test cards, and flight envelopes
- Validate performance across: Range, endurance, and environmental conditions, GPS-denied and contested environments, Payload and mission configurations
- Ensure safe and repeatable flight test execution with robust data capture
- Lead software QA strategy including: Smoke testing, Regression testing, Integration testing, System-level validation
- Validate flight control software, autonomy stacks, and ground control systems
- Establish automated test frameworks and CI/CD validation pipelines
- Partner with software engineering to drive defect resolution and release quality
- Own validation of embedded systems and firmware across: Flight controllers, Communication systems, Sensors and payload interfaces
- Develop hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing environments
- Validate firmware stability, fail-safes, and update mechanisms
- Ensure all airframe and subsystem components meet design and durability requirements: Structural integrity (vibration, shock, fatigue), Thermal performance, Environmental testing (dust, moisture, temperature extremes)
- Validate electrical systems: Power distribution, Battery performance and safety, EMI/EMC considerations
- Partner with engineering to close design gaps and improve robustness
- Build and scale test infrastructure, including: Labs, test rigs, and instrumentation, Flight test ranges and telemetry systems
- Establish standardized data collection, analysis, and reporting tools
- Drive data-informed decision-making for product readiness
- Define QA processes aligned to: Federal Aviation Administration requirements, Department of Defense standards (as applicable)
- Support certifications, airworthiness considerations, and compliance documentation
- Ensure traceability from requirements → test → validation
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary QA team: Flight test engineers, Software QA engineers, Hardware validation engineers
- Set performance standards, KPIs, and career development plans
- Foster a culture of ownership, rigor, and mission focus
Benefits
- Base pay, plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
