SMS & QMS Lead
Role Overview
The SMS & QMS Lead at AeroVect develops and manages safety and quality management systems for autonomous ground support equipment at airports. This senior-level role involves leading hazard identification, safety risk management, and quality assurance processes, working cross-functionally with engineering and regulatory bodies to ensure safe deployments. The role directly impacts the safety culture and certification readiness of the company's autonomous fleet.
Perks & Benefits
This is a fully remote position offering flexibility in work location. As a Series A company backed by top-tier VCs, you'll have opportunities for career growth in a fast-paced, high-impact environment. The role involves collaboration with world-class engineering teams and exposure to cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technology. While not explicitly stated, typical remote perks include flexible hours and a focus on outcomes over hours.
Full Job Description
Who We Are
AeroVect is transforming ground handling with autonomy, redefining how airlines and ground service providers around the globe run day-to-day operations. We are a Series A company backed by top-tier venture capital investors in aviation and autonomous driving. Our customers include some of the world’s largest airlines and ground handling providers. For more information, visit www.aerovect.com.
The Safety & Quality Management System (SMS & QMS) Lead ensures both that AeroVect’s effectively identifies, assesses, and mitigates the unique risks of operating our Autonomous Ground Support Equipment (AGSE) at major airports and that we hold ourselves to the highest quality standard while doing so. The candidate will work directly with the Director of Safety, Systems, and Product and VP of Engineering to develop and own SMS and QMS processes that support and empower safe deployments. As the SMS & QMS Lead, you will be responsible for clearly demonstrating (with evidence) to the relevant authorities that the system was designed, tested, and monitored to the highest possible standard of care, informed by relevant standards and best practices.
You Will
Hazard Identification & Safety Risk Management
Hazard Analysis: Lead specialized risk assessments to identify where system components, actors, and environmental conditions may combine into hazardous scenarios
Systemic Risk Oversight: Manage the Safety Risk Register for the fleet, ensuring concerns are analyzed for risk potential and mitigation plans are implemented
Residual Risk: Own the process for identifying, documenting, and mitigating residual risk before deploying into live operations
Safety Assurance
Processes: Develop a formal, top-down, organization-wide approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls, including systematic procedures, practices, and policies for the management of safety risk
Proactive Monitoring: Ensure a structured, repeatable, systematic approach to proactively identify hazards and manage safety risk, including developing and implementing appropriate mitigations
Safety Reviews: Manage the Safety Council to continuously evaluate safety performance and maintain documentation supporting the ongoing operation of the fleet
External Advocacy and Certification Readiness: Serve as a key point of contact for relevant regulators regarding the safety maturity of our AGSE
QMS Architecture & Compliance
The Digital Thread: Implement and manage Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools to ensure traceability of hardware components and software versions across the global fleet
Quality Assurance and Oversight: Partner with the Engineering to enable automated quality gates in the CI/CD pipeline and establish rigorous Incoming Quality Control (IQC) testing protocols for key HW suppliers (e.g., LiDAR, compute, etc.)
Root Cause Analysis: Lead the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process when events occur in the field
You Have
BS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mechatronics, Aerospace, or equivalent preferred
Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with developing and managing safety-critical autonomous deployments, including a proven track record of successfully certifying complex systems or operating under a formal SMS in a regulated environment
5+ years in Aviation Safety, Systems Safety, and / or Quality Engineering, with at least 3 years in a highly regulated high-tech environment (Aerospace or Autonomous Vehicles)
SMS Mastery including a comprehensive knowledge of relevant ICAO and FAA standards
Demonstrated ability to successfully manage XFN teams to align on a unified process vision and deliver against it
Ability to articulate technical issues and solutions to all levels of the business, within and beyond the engineering communities
We Prefer
MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or other related technical disciplines
Experience with fostering a safety culture in the context of aviation / airline or robotics applications
Familiarity with airport / airline operations and / or the airside driving environment at major global airports
Experience with safety standards in the development and deployment of complex autonomous systems (including but not limited to ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UL 4600, IEC 61508, ANSI B56.5, ISO3691, ANSI 15.08)
Bonus points for professional certifications, including SMS-certified, CSP, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Lead Auditor
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