Director of Quality

Title: Director of Quality

Location (Hybrid/Remote): McHenry, Mississippi, Full time onsite

Position Type: Direct Hire

Salary: $147,000/year to $221,000/year; The salary may be negotiable based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors. Additional restricted stocks units will be added to compensation.

Company Overview: Defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, we are changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Our family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a real time, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, we committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Head of quality for the entire site
• Own all quality functions:
• Supplier Quality
• In-process Quality
• Final Inspection / Acceptance
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Continuous Improvement
• Defect tracking, RCCA
• Build QMS from scratch (greenfield) OR overhaul (brownfield)
• Ensure compliance with AS9100
• Establish:
• KPIs, metrics, tooling
• Data-driven decision frameworks

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar technical field
• 10+ years of relevant experience working with OEM suppliers and manufacturing operations building complex hardware and software systems
• 5+ years’ experience working in an AS9100 regulated environment
• Experience in engineering, manufacturing, or quality within the aerospace/defense, automotive, or medical device fields
• Proven record in strategy and execution of Quality Management Systems in a certified AS9100 enterprise
• Working knowledge of product development methodologies such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Change Management, and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• A strong ownership mindset with demonstrated capability to drive projects from start to finish
• Proven ability to track, prioritize and drive to success multiple concurrent projects with a strong operational background
• Hands-on leader. You're resourceful, forward-thinking, drawn to building from ambiguous and unsolved problems and have an "own the outcome" mindset.
• Influence and partnering with a diverse group of stakeholders, able to partner with deeply technical as well as operational, business-minded leaders on key Quality and Manufacturing topics
• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data

Preferred Skills:

• Master’s degree in a technical field
• Experience as an auditor for AS9100 or other ISO 9001-based QMS standard (e.g., ISO 13485, IATF 16949).
• Experience with low volume manufacturing

Compensation:

• Pay: $147,000 – 221,000
• Restricted Stock Units (RSUS): $246,000 - $370,000
• ($61,500 - $92,500/annualized) – 4-year Vesting Grants
• 12-month cliff for 25%
• Accelerated vesting schedule—1/4 of 25% package vests each quarter after 12-month cliff each year
• Annual Stock Refresher (additional vesting grant): ~$61,500 target, contingent upon performance
• ~3.5-5% average merit increases in 2025 (meets/exceeds)
• Has a 401k program that people can participate in—but no matching. The company heavily indexes compensation on RSU structure, which will match the preferred share price of the day that they join. RSUs are eligible to sell once they are 1) vested with time, 2) pass a liquidity event / IPO. We have not publicly announced or disclosed an IPO date—but have been actively filling openings/tuning operational practices/finances, etc. for an IPO posture. We also have really compelling family benefits—paid Mat/Pat leave, $35k (lifetime) IVF/fertility assistance (extends to a lot of family planning costs), and a PPO/HMO/HDHP plan offered via Blue Shield of California which are heavily subsidized and low cost with exceptional offerings.
• Relocation Packages:
• 1000+ miles: $30,000
• 500-1000 miles: $25,000
• 100-500 miles: $20,000
• 50-100 miles: $15,000

Healthcare Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.

Additional Benefits

• Income Protection: Covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

Retirement Savings Plan

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.

Manager/Position Insights:

• Selling Points
• Build a quality system from zero ? production scale
• Huge career growth:
• Director ? VP/SVP potential
• Equity upside (company valuation rapidly growing)
• High-impact, mission-critical work

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled