Lead Process and Quality Engineer

North Vector Dynamics is a Canadian-owned and controlled defence technology company specializing in precision interception, autonomy, and advanced propulsion. NVD is building a full-spectrum missile capability, from counter-UAS solutions to hypersonics, designed to serve and defend NATO member states and their allies and partners.

North Vector Dynamics is building next-generation defence systems, and the CM70 is moving from prototype builds to a controlled, repeatable production line. We’re looking for a QA Compliance Lead/Process Engineer to own how our platforms are built on the shop floor: assembly routings, work instructions, quality data collection, and the continuous improvement of all three across supply chains.

Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing directly, you’ll be the lead process owner for our pilot line and the first engineer to deploy our Manufacturing Execution System (MES) on it, turning hard-won prototype know-how into a documented, traceable, audit-ready process.

In addition, you will stand up our initial control plans, and quality assurance system(s) documentation to prepare the team for AS9100 certification; and assist the Manufacturing Engineering team in standing up a proper supply chain system.

This is a ground-floor role for someone who is technically rigorous, data-driven, and energized by building systems from a clean sheet rather than inheriting them. You’ll work side by side with our technicians and design engineers, along with senior leadership and your work will define how North Vector Dynamics builds hardware as we scale.

If you want to stand up a production system that will one day support platforms in the field, saves lives, and serves sovereign national interest - this role was written for you.

• Map current CM70 assembly and build the production routings, process flows, and station layouts for our pilot line: defining each operation, its inputs, tooling, and quality checks.
• Write and maintain electronic work instructions, SOPs, and visual job aids under document and revision control, so every technician builds the same way, every time.
• Lead the process side of our MES rollout: configuring routings, station consumption, conducting time studies for takt optimizations, serialization and genealogy, and data collection points so every build is traceable from component to completed workpiece.
• Define critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics, inspection points, and quality gates for each operation; lead PFMEAs and control plans, and feed design-for-manufacturability (DFM) input back to engineering and drive overall improvements to the PD cycle.
• Stand up our non-conformance (NCR/MRB) workflow and drive root cause and corrective action, closing the loop between what fails on the floor and what changes in the process or design.
• Build processes that meet AS9100 and Controlled Goods Program requirements: supporting first article inspections, process validation, and internal dry-run audits using MES traceability records.
• Track yield, cycle time, first-pass yield, and OEE; use data and SPC to find and remove waste and variation, and lead kaizen, 5S, and line-balancing efforts as volumes increase.
• Support the layout, fixture, tooling, and equipment specification for our new manufacturing space, and help define how MES, ERP, and PLM/PDM data flow together.
• Assess engineering changes for their impact on routings, tooling, and work instructions before release, and train technicians on every new or updated process.

• Build and own our Quality Management System from the ground up: (supplier) internal quality manual, procedures, document and record control, and the gap assessment and roadmap that take us to…