Manager, Quality Systems (R5960)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn , X , Instagram , and YouTube .

Job Description:

The Quality Systems Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving Shield AI's enterprise Quality Management System (QMS). This role ensures the QMS meets AS9100, applicable AQAP/NATO, customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements while supporting rapid growth across development, production, and fielded products.

This leader will drive the integration of AQAP 2110 requirements into Shield AI's existing QMS, establishing a scalable system that supports international defense customers without creating duplicative quality processes. The role partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, Configuration Management, and Field Operations.

What you'll do:

• Own and continuously improve the enterprise QMS, ensuring compliance with AS9100 and applicable AQAP, customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the assessment, gap closure, implementation, and certification readiness activities required to support AQAP 2110.
• Develop and maintain a single integrated QMS that supports multiple programs, customers, and applicable international defense requirements.
• Own the internal audit program, including audit planning, auditor qualification, findings, corrective actions, and effectiveness verification.
• Lead preparation for AS9100, AQAP, customer, government, and third-party audits and assessments.
• Own enterprise corrective action and continuous improvement processes, ensuring systemic issues are effectively identified, corrected, and prevented from recurring.
• Establish and maintain processes for document control, quality records, objective evidence, and retention.
• Partner with Engineering and Configuration Management to ensure appropriate configuration control, traceability, and as-built product records.
• Establish processes for identifying and implementing contractual and customer-specific quality requirements, including quality planning and appropriate flow-down to suppliers.
• Support Government Quality Assurance activities and serve as a key interface with customers, government representatives, and authorized quality representatives.
• Establish enterprise quality metrics and provide leadership with visibility into QMS health, compliance risks, audit performance, and systemic quality issues.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to simplify, standardize, digitize, and improve quality processes.
• Build, develop, and lead the Quality Systems & Compliance team.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combinations of education and significant relevant experience may be considered.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in Quality, Quality Assurance, Quality Systems, Compliance, or Product Assurance.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in Quality Systems, Quality Assurance, Compliance, or a related function.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or maintaining an AS9100 Quality Management System.

Preferred qualifications:

• Direct experience with AQAP 2110 or other NATO Allied Quality Assurance Publications.
• Experience supporting international defense customers, Government Quality Assurance, or government/customer quality representatives.
• Experience conducting QMS gap assessments and implementing compliance roadmaps.
• Experience integrating customer or regulatory requirements into an existing AS9100 QMS.
• Strong understanding of configuration management, traceability, product acceptance, and objective quality evidence.
• ASQ CMQ/OE, CQA, CQE, or equivalent professional certification.
• AS9100 or ISO Lead Auditor certification.

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