Head of Aircraft Quality (Seattle, WA)

Head of Aircraft Quality

Seattle, WA | Shield AI | X-BAT Program

Position Summary

Shield AI is seeking a hands-on Head of Aircraft Quality to lead quality operations for its X-BAT aircraft program, supporting the transition from prototype development through production launch and full-rate manufacturing.This individual will build and lead the quality organization for Shield AI’s new Seattle-area manufacturing facility, X-Forge 3, establishing the quality systems, processes, inspection capabilities and team needed to support aircraft production at scale.The role will oversee all aspects of product and manufacturing quality, including Quality Management Systems (QMS), quality engineering, inspections, nonconformance management, corrective actions, supplier quality and regulatory compliance. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production and Supply Chain, this leader will drive defect prevention, continuous improvement, product reliability and production readiness.The ideal candidate brings extensive aerospace or defense quality leadership experience, a background supporting prototype builds and new product introduction (NPI), and the ability to build scalable quality systems while balancing production schedules with strict quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, recruit and lead the aircraft quality organization, establishing quality processes and capabilities for a new manufacturing facility.
• Lead quality planning and execution throughout prototype development, pre-production, production launch and rate ramp.
• Establish and maintain Quality Management Systems aligned with AS9100, ISO 9001 and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee quality engineering, receiving and final inspections, testing, traceability, configuration control and product acceptance.
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to identify risks, prevent defects and implement effective manufacturing controls.
• Lead nonconformance management, Material Review Board (MRB), root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive production quality performance by monitoring defects, rework, first-pass yield and product escapes.
• Manage internal, external and customer audits, certification readiness and corrective action closure.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and suppliers to resolve incoming quality issues and improve supplier performance.
• Establish quality metrics, digital tracking tools and reporting systems to improve visibility, accountability and production efficiency.
• Provide leadership with visibility into product quality, manufacturing risks and production readiness, escalating or stopping work when quality requirements cannot be met.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of quality, product assurance or reliability leadership experience within aerospace, defense or high-reliability manufacturing.
• Experience leading quality through prototype development, new product introduction and sustained production.
• Proven ability to build and scale quality teams, processes and management systems.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, auditing, MRB, root cause analysis and corrective action processes.
• Experience with complex manufacturing assemblies, inspection processes, configuration management, traceability and product acceptance.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence Engineering, Manufacturing, Production and Supply Chain stakeholders.
• Hands-on leadership approach with strong technical judgment and the ability to balance production demands with quality expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience taking a new aircraft or aerospace program from prototype builds through production launch and rate ramp.
• Experience establishing quality operations at a new manufacturing facility or transitioning production between facilities.
• Background in aircraft final assembly, systems integration, production testing and reliability improvement.
• Experience implementing digital quality management systems, statistical process controls and data-driven quality improvements.
• Advanced degree in Engineering, Quality or a related technical field.