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Northwood Space is a modern space infrastructure company building a global network of phased array ground stations for satellite communications supporting national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. The company designs, builds, and rapidly deploys vertically integrated systems for mission-critical space applications.
You will serve as the foundational Head of Quality & Reliability, responsible for building and leading a world-class quality organization as the company scales from product development into production. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on embedding quality and reliability into every stage of the product lifecycle, ensuring systems meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and mission success.
Key responsibilities include architecting and implementing a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS), leading the company through AS9100 certification, and establishing processes, standards, and culture for mission-critical aerospace systems. You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Integration & Test, and Production teams to ensure quality is built in from the outset. You'll own core quality processes including document control, configuration management, nonconformance management, and CAPA. You'll develop and implement quality plans, process controls, and manufacturing strategies; lead root cause investigations and continuous improvement efforts; establish quality metrics and data-driven improvement initiatives; and develop the company's reliability strategy including qualification testing, reliability growth, and failure analysis.
The ideal candidate is a builder and leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, has successfully established quality and reliability functions in aerospace, defense, space, or high-performance engineering organizations, and brings deep technical expertise combined with strong leadership capabilities.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, Quality Engineering, or related technical discipline; 8+ years in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or reliability engineering; 3+ years leading teams or owning major cross-functional quality initiatives; experience in high-reliability industries (aerospace, defense, automotive, energy); strong background in DFMEA, Control Plans, DOE, Six Sigma, DFSS, statistical methods, and reliability engineering; track record building or scaling quality systems in low-to-medium volume, high-complexity environments.
Preferred: high-growth startup or rapidly scaling manufacturing experience; AS9100 certification or major QMS transformation leadership; quality data analytics and feedback loop systems; technical and operational roles spanning quality, manufacturing engineering, or operations; hands-on experience with RF, PCBA, custom enclosures, or electromechanical assemblies.
This position requires obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed. Role requires 5 days per week on-site. U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status required due to ITAR regulations.
