# Head of Quality and Reliability

**Company:** [Northwood Space](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/northwood-space)
**Location:** Torrance, CA
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $170k – $235k/yr
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** Quality Management Systems, As9100, Document Control, Configuration Management, Capa, Fmea, Fracas, Six Sigma, Design Of Experiments, Dfss, Statistical Methods, Reliability Engineering, Root Cause Analysis, Control Plans
**Posted:** 2026-09-02

> Leads the quality and reliability organization for mission-critical aerospace communication systems, establishing the QMS, driving AS9100 certification, and embedding quality and reliability across product development and production. Requires 8+ years in quality or reliability engineering and experience in high-reliability industries.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Build, implement, and continuously improve the company Quality Management System (QMS).
- Lead achievement and maintenance of AS9100 certification, including audits, compliance activities, training, and continuous improvement.
- Own document control, configuration management, nonconformance management, CAPA, and audit readiness.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Integration & Test, and Production to embed quality and reliability throughout the product lifecycle.
- Develop quality plans, process controls, acceptance criteria, and manufacturing quality strategies.
- Lead root-cause investigations and continuous improvement to reduce defects, improve yields, and enhance process capability.
- Establish quality and reliability metrics, reporting systems, and data-driven improvement initiatives.
- Develop and execute reliability strategy covering qualification testing, reliability growth, failure analysis, and risk mitigation.
- Implement reliability engineering practices including FMEA, FRACAS, fault analysis, and lifecycle risk management.
- Build and lead a high-performing Quality & Reliability organization.

## Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in manufacturing quality, quality engineering, or reliability engineering.
- 3+ years leading teams or owning major cross-functional quality initiatives.
- Experience in high-reliability industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, or energy.
- Strong background in DFMEA, Control Plans, DOE, Six Sigma, DFSS, statistical methods, and reliability engineering.
- Experience building or scaling quality systems in low-to-medium-volume, high-complexity environments.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
- Must work onsite five days per week.
- Must meet applicable U.S. space technology export-control requirements.

## Nice to Have
- Experience in a high-growth startup or rapidly scaling manufacturing environment.
- Experience leading AS9100 certification or major QMS transformations.
- Experience building quality-data, analytics, and feedback-loop systems.
- Background spanning quality, manufacturing engineering, and operations leadership.
- Hands-on experience with RF, PCBA, custom enclosures, electromechanical assemblies, or other complex hardware systems.

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