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Director of Quality
Job Location:
Job Location:
San Diego, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 175000 - 210000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
11 October 2026 (2 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
8 January 2027
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Firestorm Labs is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Quality to join our growing team in San Diego. At Firestorm Labs we are building the future of distributed mission-adaptive airpower for the modern your leadership position you will be responsible for setting the vision strategy and standards for quality across the entire product lifecycle from supplier to customer delivery.
You will build and own Firestorms quality management system lead the company to AS9100 compliance and certification and grow the quality team from a small core into Quality Engineering Supplier Quality and Inspection functions. You will also scale quality systems to support rapid production growth across our products and sites worldwide serve as the primary quality interface with defense customers and auditors and build a culture where quality is owned by every addition you will report to the VP of Manufacturing while quality processes and systems are being established and will lead an independent quality organization ahead of AS9100 certification.
What Youll Do
- Quality strategy and leadership: This is the core of the role. Youll define the quality vision objectives and roadmap for Firestorm and align quality priorities with production ramp program commitments and business growth.
- Team building: Lead hire and develop the quality organization including Quality Engineering Supplier Quality and Inspection with clear expectations and a path for growth.
- QMS and AS9100: Own Firestorms path to AS9100 in its entirety. Build a quality management system that serves all of Firestorm worldwide reach AS9100 compliance within your first 90 days and lead the company through certification. This includes document control internal audits management review and certification audits.
- Supplier quality strategy: Set the standards for supplier selection qualification audits and performance monitoring and ensure suppliers are held accountable through corrective action and scorecards.
- Corrective action system: Own a closed-loop NCMR MRB and RCCA process ensuring root causes are verified and corrective actions are effective before closure.
- Quality by design: Partner with engineering NPI and manufacturing to ensure quality is designed in not inspected in through APQP PFMEA control plans first article inspection and ECO implementation.
- Customer and regulatory interface: Serve as the primary quality point of contact for customers government representatives and third-party auditors and ensure compliance with contractual flow-down and regulatory agency requirements across our production and flight test locations.
- Metrics and reporting: Define the quality KPIs that matter (DPPM first pass yield cost of poor quality CAR closure) and report performance and risk to executive leadership.
- Measurement systems: Ensure inspection calibration and measurement systems (MSA gage R&R) keep pace with production ramp and an evolving product line.
- Continuous improvement: Drive continuous improvement and a culture of quality ownership across Operations Supply Chain and Engineering.
- Audits and inspections: Lead customer source inspections certification audits and regulatory audits.
- Perform other duties as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Engineering (Mechanical Industrial Aerospace Manufacturing or related discipline). In lieu of a degree 20 years of progressive experience in discipline.
- U.S. Person as defined by 22 CFR 120.62 required due to ITAR regulations which includes U.S. citizens lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) or protected individuals under asylee or refugee status
- 15 years of progressive quality experience in an aerospace defense or precision manufacturing environment.
- 5 years leading quality teams including managing engineers inspectors and/or managers.
- Experience building and implementing an AS9100 or equivalent quality management system from the ground up and taking it through certification.
- Experience leading AS9100 certification customer and/or regulatory audits.
- Experience managing supplier quality programs including audits corrective action (SCARs) and supplier development.
- Strong command of quality tools and methodologies: RCCA (8D 5-Why Fishbone) APQP FMEA control plans SPC and MSA.
- Excellent communication and executive presence with the ability to influence cross-functional leaders suppliers and customers.
Preferred Qualifications
- AS9100 Lead Auditor certification.
- ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
- Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement training.
- Experience with DoD contract quality requirements and supporting DCMA customer and other regulatory agency audits.
- Experience with unmanned systems electromechanical assemblies or mixed hardware/software builds.
- Experience managing quality across multiple sites including international locations.
- Experience implementing digital quality tools eQMS or MES platforms.
- Startup or high-growth company experience.
Work Environment
- Position is working onsite at our headquarters in San Diego CA.
- Travel up to 20% including traveling to domestic and international sites.
- We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating. Relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
Compensation
- Base Salary: $175000 - $210000 base commensurate with experience
- Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors including but not limited to relevant experience education certifications specialized skills geographic location and business needs. Actual compensation may vary and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.
Who We Are
At Firestorm were building toward a future defined by incontestable defense logistics. That means equipping warfighters with mission-critical capabilities at the point of need. Not in months not from a depot halfway around the world but now in the field on demand.
Were a VC-backed defense technology company pioneering an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem that produces and sustains modular mission-adaptable unmanned systems parts and components for repair and sustainment and the software to transform point solutions into a network of strategic assets.
Were building a team of engineers operators and problem-solvers who believe the future of deterrence cannot rely only on expensive exquisite platforms made in centralized factories. We build and field affordable systems using distributed production capabilities at the edge. If you want to solve challenging problems that will reshape the future of defense youre in the right place.
Why This Role Why Now
Firestorm is at an inflection point. Fielded systems real customers and an aggressive production and development roadmap mean quality matters more every day. The person who takes this role will build the quality organization and systems that scale with us and theyll have the autonomy and organizational support to do it right.
Benefits & Perks
Our culture fosters collaboration respect and trust empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team we also take pride in looking after our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
- We offer comprehensive medical dental and vision plans
- Equity grants for new hires
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
- Unlimited PTO
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in July & December.
- Generous parental leave
- Lifestyle Spending Account
- FSA
- DCFSA
- HSA
- Hospital Indemnity insurance
- Critical Illness insurance
- Accident insurance
- Basic Life/AD&D short-term and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
- Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services such as free legal and financial support are available to you as well.
Export Control Compliance
To conform to U.S. government export control regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) you must be a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident of the U.S. protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. Because this position requires a security clearance U.S. citizenship is required.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected under federal state or local law including those with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the California Fair Chance Act. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities women Veterans and those with disabilities to apply and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process please dont hesitate to reach out to us at so we can provide the support you need.
Required Experience:
Director
