Quality Lead (AS9100 / QMS)

System Builder | Problem Solver | Production Partner

Location: Onsite – Leander, TX Engagement: Full-Time Reports to: Senior Leadership

Company Overview

Wild West Systems is rapidly moving and growing early-stage American defense technology company with the mission to equip the civilized world with superior and affordable arms and advanced technologies – to dominate the battlefield of present and future threats, in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. We fuse versatile domain experience with novel approach and creativity to change the paradigm of defense – both for military arenas and civilian soft targets.

Position Overview

Expectations for this position are simple and demanding. This includes building a quality system that enables speed without hindrance. Wild West Systems is moving fast. We are building production, not maintaining it. Quality cannot be a blocker, but rather a system that keeps continuity with confidence. The selected candidate will build our Quality Management System from scratch, drive AS9100 certification and embed quality directly into how we design and manufacture. The selected candidate will own root cause analysis, define processes, and streamline production with efficient quality control. This role is not an audit role, or stop the line role, but rather a problem-solving and system-building function.

What You Own (End-to-End)

• The company's entire quality system
• Conception to deployment of audit-ready, production-integrated system
• AS9100 certification
• Quality Management System (QMS)
• NCR and corrective action plans
• MRB process structure
• Defect reduction and process control
• Production quality integration
• Responsible for ensuring quality built into the system, not inspected at completion

What You Actually Do

• Build a lightweight, effective QMS from scratch that supports both production and AS9100 certification
• Drive AS9100 certification from scratch, defining processes, documentation, and audit readiness
• Design and implement NCR and corrective action systems
• Establish MRB processes, ensuring clear ownership of disposition while maintaining tracking and accountability
• Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) efforts. This requires solving issues, not facilitating
• Work directly with production and engineering to resolve defects quickly and permanently
• Identify patterns in defects and eliminate them through process improvements
• Design quality into process utilizing process control | automation | measurement systems (Keyence, vision systems, etc.) | clear work instructions
• Reduce reliance on inspection by improving process capability
• Build systems that prevent defects rather than detect them
• Create and maintain documentation including SOP's, work instructions, control plans, and audit records
• Partner with engineering to improve product design for manufacturability and quality
• Implement practical, usable systems – not theoretical frameworks

What You'll bring

• Experience building or significantly contributing to an AS9100 or similar quality system
• Problem solving, not gatekeeping
• Pragmatic in solving problems, not just identifying them
• Comfortable working concurrently on shop floor and in system
• Mindset of quality enables production, not hinders it
• Excel at working in a fast ambiguous environment
• Building structure where non exist
• Defaulting to practical solutions vs perfect systems
• Ownership like an operator, not an auditor
• Able to relocate and work full-time at our Leander, TX site

Qualifications

• 5+ years in quality engineering, quality systems, or manufacturing quality roles
• Experience building or operating within an A9100 or equivalent system
• Experience working in aerospace manufacturing, defense production, or high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Experience with NCR reporting, MRB processes, and RCCA efforts
• Experience writing SOP, work instructions and control plan
• Preferred experience in a fast-paced or scaling environments
• ITAR Eligibility: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. Citizen or National, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR

What Success Looks Like

• A functional QMS is established within the first 90 days
• AS9100 certification achieved on an accelerated timeline
• Defects are identified, root-caused, and eliminated, not repeated
• Production moves faster with fewer quality issues
• Inspection is minimized through process control
• Quality becomes embedded in how work is done, not a separate function

Benefits Overview:

We are always looking for good people! Wild West Systems is committed to providing its employees with competitive salaries and benefits in order to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.

Health Insurance:100% coverage for employees, 90% for spouse/family

Vision and Dental: 100% Coverage

401K with 4% match

Important Information:

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.

As part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our Talent Team at [email protected]

This company uses E-Verify to confirm each employee's work authorization.