Quality Manager

Job description

OVERVIEW Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere. Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Quality Manager who is fueled by high ownership, execution horsepower, growth mindset, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond. POSITION SUMMARY We are looking for a resilient, high-energy, experienced Quality Manager to be a people leader and organization builder who will establish a Quality Center of Excellence (COE) as the company’s single source of truth for quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. This role hires, coaches, and develops a high-performing team of quality engineers, inspectors, and technicians, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous learning. Building the COE means defining the operating model and governance, standardizing best practices into scalable playbooks and a maturity roadmap, and enabling the business through training, communities of practice, and data-driven decision making. The COE owns the QMS, internal and external audits, CAPA and inspection, and competency programs to always keep the company AS9100-certified and audit-ready. By partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Programs, this leader shifts the organization from reactive firefighting to proactive, prevention-based quality that protects mission success. KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Define the vision, charter, operating model, and governance for the Quality COE, including roles, service offerings, and engagement model with internal customers. Develop and execute a multi-year quality strategy and maturity roadmap aligned to company and program objectives. Standardize processes, templates, and playbooks across the organization to drive consistency, scalability, and reuse of best practices. Establish communities of practice and a knowledge-sharing forum so lessons learned are captured and applied across programs. Lead, coach, and develop quality engineers, inspectors, and technicians; own hiring, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning. Build skills and career paths (e.g., technician to engineer to senior roles) and a competency framework for the quality function. Set clear goals and priorities, balance workload, and foster an engaged, inclusive, high-accountability team culture. Own the Quality Management System and ensure continued AS9100 certification, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory flow-downs are met. Lead the internal audit program and serve as the executive point of contact for certification body, customer, and regulatory audits. Oversee document control, records management, and management review, and keep the QMS right-sized, current, and effective. Own the CAPA and nonconformance processes, including root cause analysis, effectiveness verification, and Material Review Board (MRB) governance. Drive risk-based thinking, FMEA practices, and preventive action to reduce escapes and recurrence. Oversee configuration, traceability, first article inspection (AS9102), and counterfeit part prevention practices. Own quality training and competency programs, including special process and inspection stamp qualification and certification tracking. Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, 8D) and report performance through dashboards and KPIs to executive leadership. Communicating project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership Implementing and maintaining agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle Perform additional job duties as assigned QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field (or equivalent combination of education and experience). 8+ years of quality experience in aerospace, space, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing, including 3+ years leading teams. Deep working knowledge of AS9100/ISO 9001, AS9102, and quality management system design and maintenance. Proven experience leading audits, CAPA, and root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, fishbone, fault tree). Demonstrated ability to build or mature a function, define operating models, and drive adoption of standards across stakeholders. Strong communication, influence, and executive presence, with the ability to translate quality data into business decisions. Experience in space flight hardware, spacecraft, or launch vehicle programs and familiarity with NASA or DoD quality requirements. ASQ certification (CQE, CMQ/OE, CQA) and/or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification. Lean or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt May require occasional extended hours to support program milestones or audit events. Track record of delivering outcomes in ambiguous, fast-moving environments Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges Proven to deliver high quality results under tight deadlines Core Skills Passion for space and the mission Entrepreneurial, growth mindset High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster Core Competencies: Embody our core values of leadership , innovation , and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: Accountability Technical Rigor Execution Discipline Pride of Delivery WORK ENVIRONMENT: Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task. Requirements This position may require access to export controlled technical data or technology subject to NASA regulations, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In accordance with U.S. export control laws, final candidates may be required to undergo additional export control screening to determine eligibility for access. Meeting these requirements is a condition of employment. Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones Physical Requirements Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time) May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time) Equipment and Machines Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.) Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.