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 (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).

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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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Direct experience with AQAP 2110 or other NATO Allied Quality Assurance Publications.
• Experience supporting international defense customers, Government Quality Assurance, or…