About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

• Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.
• Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.
• One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What’s In It for You

• Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.
• Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.
• Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Scheduler to join our Program Management team and build the heartbeat of our development program. You’ll own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for our clean-sheet aircraft integrating design, manufacturing, and test activities from concept through first flight. You’ll work hand-in-hand with our engineering, manufacturing, and test leads to translate technical objectives into executable timelines and keep the team aligned on what matters most: delivering on cost, schedule, and performance.

This role is hybrid/Remote to start, with negotiated relocation required to our production facility once the factory is commissioned.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, maintain, and baseline the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) in Microsoft Project across all phases of development.
• Integrate inputs from each Integrated Product Team (IPT) - including Air Vehicle, Mission Systems, and Autonomy - into a single executable plan.
• Perform critical path and “what-if” analysis to evaluate impacts of design and manufacturing decisions.
• Support major program engineering reviews with accurate, traceable schedule data.
• Drive recurring schedule reviews, highlighting key risks, variances, and recovery actions.
• Collaborate with leadership to align schedule objectives with funding profiles and technical milestones.
• Generate schedule reports, metrics, and forecasts for executive review.
• 10%  -25% Travel required.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, project management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience scheduling complex aerospace development programs.
• Expert proficiency with scheduling toolsets (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, etc.) including logic networks, dependencies, and reporting.
• Proven ability to build, maintain, and communicate large-scale IMS baselines for multidisciplinary programs.
• Strong understanding of DoD or FAA development lifecycles and milestone-driven planning.
• Excellent communication, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Bonus Points

• Experience in start-up, or equivalent fast paced culture
• Experience in end-to-end aircraft development, from design through certification
• Experience with Earned Value Management
• Background in new-start or prototype aircraft or UAV development.
• Familiarity with digital engineering environments (Jama, Teamcenter, or similar).

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Salary Range: 65K-180K 
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• Daily in-person lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 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. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!

About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

• Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.
• Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.
• One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What You'll Do

• Own the Propulsion Architecture
  • Lead engine selection and sizing trades
  • Define propulsion system architecture including nacelle, mounts, fuel, controls, and thermal integration
  • Tie propulsion performance to mission modeling and aircraft-level requirements
• Drive Aircraft-Level Integration
  • Lead engine-to-airframe integration across structures, aerodynamics, avionics, and autonomy
  • Define propulsion interfaces and manage integration risks
  • Partner cross-functionally to retire vibration, thermal, and installation risks early
• Lead OEM & Supplier Engagement
  • Serve as primary technical interface with engine OEMs
  • Evaluate performance guarantees, integration constraints, and certification pedigree
  • Ensure long-lead propulsion risks are proactively managed
• Enable Certification & Airworthiness
  • Support FAA and/or military airworthiness compliance strategy
  • Contribute to propulsion-related hazard analyses and safety documentation
  • Help shape the path from experimental testing to certified operations
• Support Test & Validation
  • Define propulsion ground and flight test instrumentation strategies
  • Correlate models with test data
  • Own performance validation against mission requirements

What You’ll Bring

• Deep Propulsion Expertise
  • 10+ years of experience in aircraft propulsion or propulsion integration
  • Experience integrating turboprop and/or small turbofan engines
  • Strong understanding of engine performance, SFC, installation effects, and mission sizing
• Aircraft-Level Systems Thinking
  • Experience leading propulsion integration on a clean-sheet or major derivative program
  • Working knowledge of structural loads, vibration, thermal management, and FADEC integration
  • Comfort operating at aircraft architecture level, not just component level
• Technical Leadership
  • Experience interfacing directly with engine OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers
  • Ability to lead trade studies and defend architecture decisions at design reviews
  • Strong written and verbal technical communication skills
  • Analytical Rigor
  • Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools
  • Experience correlating analytical models with ground or flight test data

Bonus Points

• FAA Part 23 or Part 25 propulsion certification experience
• Military airworthiness or DoD program experience
• Experience with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo)
• Experience integrating propulsion with autonomy or unmanned systems
• Flight test support experience

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Base Salary: $165,000 to 245,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 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. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!

About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

• Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.
• Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.
• One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What’s In It for You

• Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.
• Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.
• Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

About the Role

We’re looking for an Avionics Architecture Lead Engineer to own the end-to-end avionics system design for our autonomous aircraft. You will define the architecture, manage key avionics subcontractors, and ensure the system meets FAA certification requirements.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for a self-starter who can zoom from high-level architecture down into ICD details, test plans, and flight-test findings.

What You’ll Do

• Own the avionics architecture.
  • Define the end-to-end avionics system, including mission computers, navigation, communications, surveillance, and payload interfaces.
    Select network topologies (ARINC 664/AFDX, TSN Ethernet, ARINC 429, CAN, etc.) and define redundancy, partitioning, and data flows.
  • Lead supplier & subcontractor integration.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for avionics vendors and integrators.
  • Drive SOWs, technical requirements, ICDs, and acceptance criteria.
  • Review vendor designs, safety artifacts, and test results; hold them accountable to cost/schedule/technical performance.
• Ensure FAA airworthiness compliance.
  • Architect the system in accordance with ARP 4754A/4761, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and applicable Part 23/25 guidance.
  • Support System Safety in the development and maintenance system-level requirements, safety analyses (FHA, PSSA, SSA), and certification plans.
• Drive verification & validation.
  • Develop system-level test plans, HIL/LRU integration plans, and test objectives.
  • Work with test and flight teams to triage anomalies, root-cause issues, and feed fixes back into the architecture.
• Collaborate across the stack.
  • Partner with Autonomy, GNC, Flight Controls, and Cyber teams to ensure avionics supports robust, resilient autonomous operations.
  • Communicate clearly with leadership on risk, mitigations, and tradeoffs.

What You Bring

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in avionics systems design and integration on certificated aircraft.
• Proven experience with FAA certification efforts, including hands-on work with some combination of:
  • ARP 4754A / ARP 4761
  • DO-178C (software)
  • DO-254 (hardware)
  • DO-160 environmental testing
  • Part 23 or Part 25 certification projects
• Strong systems engineering fundamentals: requirements development, ICDs, safety analysis, verification planning.
• Demonstrated experience integrating avionics LRUs, networks, and sensors in a lab or flight-test environment.
• Track record of leading and managing subcontractors or vendors—able to push back technically and keep them aligned to mission and schedule.
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable presenting architecture and certification status to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
• U.S. Person, eligible to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Bonus Points

• Experience with defense-focused avionics or mission systems (Link-16, SATCOM, tactical radios, radar, EO/IR, etc.).
• Prior work on UAS, optionally-piloted, or highly autonomous aircraft.
• Familiarity with GRA, MOSA, or SOSA standards and modular open-systems architectures.
• MBSE experience (SysML, Cameo/MagicDraw) linking avionics design to the broader digital thread.
• FAA DER and/or E-UM Ticket in applicable Airworthiness Standards

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Base Salary: $160,000 to $220,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 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. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!

About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

• Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.
• Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.
• One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What’s In It for You

• Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.
• Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.
• Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

About the Role

This role is for Aircraft Certification Engineers in one of the following areas: Propulsion Systems, Electrical Systems, Mechanical Systems, or Flight Control Systems.

As a key early hire in our Certification Organization, you will help define and execute the certification strategy for our emerging unmanned cargo aircraft. This is a hands-on role where you will support certification planning, compliance definition, and regulatory engagement across multiple aircraft systems. You will work closely with the Head of Certification, founders, engineering leads, and regulators to translate regulatory requirements into clear engineering and verification activities. In this role, you will support certification efforts leading to an experimental certificate of airworthiness and contribute to the long-term roadmap toward Type Certification.

What You’ll Do

• Support certification planning and execution for aircraft systems in accordance with 14 CFR Part 25  
• Interpret and apply FAA regulations, policy, guidance material, applicable to assigned systems
• Develop and own:
  • Certification Plans
  • Issue Papers
  • Means of Compliance
  • Compliance Checklists and Summary Reports
• Work closely with engineering disciplines (propulsion, electrical, flight controls, mechanical) to ensure certification requirements are translated into clear, actionable design and verification requirements
• Coordinate and support compliance demonstrations, including analysis, inspection, ground tests, and flight tests
• Interface with FAA, DERs, or other certification authorities under the guidance of senior certification leadership
• Track certification issues, risks, and assumptions; support resolution through technical and regulatory coordination
• Support conformity activities and review certification artifacts for accuracy and regulatory compliance
• Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR), safety reviews, and certification readiness reviews as required

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 5–10 years of experience in aircraft certification (TC/ATC/STC), airworthiness, or regulatory compliance
• Practical experience with 14 CFR Part 25 and/or Part 23 certification programs
• Experience leading certification of one of the following system domains:
  • Propulsion systems
  • Electrical power generation and distribution
  • Flight control systems (mechanical and fly-by-wire)
  • Mechanical systems (hydraulics, pneumatics, environmental control, landing gear, etc.)
• Experience with implementation of certification guidance such as but not limited to:
• FAA Orders (e.g., 8110 series, 8130 series)
• ACs related to systems, safety, and compliance demonstration
• Strong technical writing and communication skills

Bonus Points

• FAA DER and/or E-UM Ticket in applicable Airworthiness Standards
• Experience in end-to-end UAS development, from design through certification (experimental SAC/Part 107)

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Base Salary: $160,000 to $260,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 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. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of Quality is a senior leadership position responsible for establishing, implementing, and maturing all quality management functions across Atropos Group's development and production operations. This role is the company's primary quality authority and will serve as the central driver of the Production Approval process — leading the quality system infrastructure, processes, and organizational readiness required to achieve an FAA Production Certificate (PC). The Head of Quality will build and lead a high-performing quality organization from the ground up, shaping the culture, systems, and procedures necessary to support production certification activities, entry into service, and long-term operational excellence in a highly regulated aerospace environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FAA Production Certification & Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as the company's primary quality authority and key point of contact for all FAA Production Certificate (PC) activities
• Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) to satisfy FAA PC requirements under 14 CFR Part 21
• Coordinate directly with FAA personnel and Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs) throughout the PC application and approval process
• Develop and maintain the Production Approval Holder (PAH) quality manual, quality procedures, and associated command media in support of PC issuance
• Support Type Certificate (TC) activities by ensuring that design-to-production traceability, conformity inspections, and first article evaluations are executed in compliance with FAA requirements
• Monitor and interpret applicable FAA regulations, policy updates, and airworthiness directives for impact on quality processes and production readiness
• Lead internal and external quality audits in support of FAA oversight, including responses to findings and implementation of corrective actions

Quality Management System (QMS) Development & Maintenance

• Architect and implement a scalable, AS9100D-aligned QMS that supports both current development activities and future high-rate production
• Establish and maintain the full suite of quality procedures, work instructions, and forms constituting the company's quality command media structure
• Drive QMS integration across all functional areas including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management
• Develop and maintain Quality plans for all major programs, ensuring appropriate inspection, verification, and validation gates are defined and executed
• Own the internal audit program, including scheduling, execution, corrective action tracking, and management review inputs
• Establish and monitor quality KPIs and metrics to provide leadership with visibility into system health and performance trends
• Lead periodic Management Review processes and provide executive leadership with quality system status reports and improvement recommendations
• Ensure seamless integration between the QMS and the company’s Safety Management System (SMS), establishing clear interfaces between quality processes and the four SMS components defined under 14 CFR Part 5 (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion)
• Collaborate with the SMS program manager to ensure that nonconformance data, CAPA outcomes, and audit findings feed into the SMS Safety Assurance function, supporting hazard identification, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring obligations under Part 5
• Support development of integrated QMS/SMS documentation architecture to avoid duplication, ensure traceability across both systems, and present a cohesive compliance posture to the FAA during PC and SMS acceptance activities

Production Quality & Nonconformance Management

• Establish and lead all production quality functions including receiving inspection, in-process inspection, and final acceptance activities
• Own and administer the Material Review Board (MRB) process, including disposition of nonconforming materials, components, and assemblies
• Develop and implement robust nonconformance reporting (NCR) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes that drive root cause elimination
• Ensure First Article Inspection (FAI) processes comply with AS9102 requirements and support the TC/PC certification record
• Implement statistical process control (SPC) and other data-driven quality tools to monitor production process stability and capability
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to establish and enforce inspection points, acceptance criteria, and product definition compliance checkpoints
• Develop and maintain test and inspection records management systems to support airworthiness documentation and regulatory traceability

Supplier Quality Management

• Establish and oversee the supplier quality program, including qualification, surveillance, and performance management for the approved supplier list (ASL)
• Define and implement supplier quality requirements, flow-down clauses, and quality purchase order terms aligned with AS9100D and FAA regulations
• Lead supplier audits and assessments, including delegation of Supplier Source Inspection where required
• Manage supplier corrective action processes and ensure timely resolution of supplier-originated nonconformances
• Collaborate with Supply Chain on supplier selection, risk assessment, and development initiatives to build a capable and compliant supplier base

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality organization scaled to meet the demands of the production ramp and PC certification milestones
• Establish organizational structure, roles, and hiring plan for the quality function in alignment with the overall manufacturing headcount roadmap
• Foster a culture of quality consciousness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire organization
• Implement talent development programs, training curricula, and succession planning for key quality positions
• Serve as a senior voice for quality in cross-functional forums, program reviews, and executive-level discussions

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Systems, or a related technical field required
• Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or Business Administration preferred
• Professional certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent highly desirable

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of progressive quality experience, with at least 5 years in senior quality leadership roles within aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting an FAA Production Certificate application and approval process
• Deep working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 (Production Approval), Part 43, and related FAA regulatory frameworks governing production quality
• Hands-on experience developing and implementing AS9100D-compliant QMS from an early-stage or startup manufacturing environment strongly preferred
• Proven track record managing MRB authority, nonconformance disposition, and CAPA programs in a production environment
• Experience conducting and managing internal and supplier quality audits, including corrective action follow-up
• Background in First Article Inspection (AS9102), acceptance test procedures, and production conformity documentation
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR compliance requirements and their implications for quality records management and data handling

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 Production Approval requirements and FAA PC certification processes
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100D Quality Management System requirements and audit methodology
• Familiarity with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements and conformity documentation standards
• Proficiency with quality management tools including FMEA, SPC, Root Cause Analysis, and related methodologies
• Experience with PLM and MES systems in a production environment; familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter or equivalent preferred
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills; ability to translate quality data into actionable insights for leadership

Leadership Competencies

• Exceptional ability to build quality organizations and systems from early-stage foundations toward full production readiness
• Strategic thinker who can balance near-term certification deliverables with long-term system maturity goals
• Strong communicator and collaborator capable of engaging credibly with FAA personnel, executive leadership, and production teams alike
• Decisive and technically grounded — able to make sound risk acceptance decisions under pressure
• Change agent mindset with demonstrated ability to drive quality culture in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment
• High integrity and attention to detail; models the standard of compliance and rigor expected of the broader organization
• Effective mentor and people developer committed to building lasting organizational quality capability

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Professional office and manufacturing environment; regular presence on the production floor expected as facilities come online
• Domestic travel required (up to 20-30%) for supplier visits/audits, FAA meetings, and industry engagements
• Initially remote with transition to on-site at Atropos manufacturing headquarters; exact location to be determined in connection with facility site selection
• May require extended hours during critical certification milestones, audit preparation periods, or production launch activities
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; ability to work with ITAR-controlled technical data required

About Us

We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today, not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it.

Culture That Ships

Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset.

Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way.

One Team, No Tourists. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What’s In It for You

Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.

Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.

Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.

About the Role 

We're looking for a System Administrator / IT Lead to be the first internal IT hire. You'll shape not just how the environment runs today, but how it's designed and governed going forward. The immediate work is operational: standing up and managing our Microsoft 365 environments (commercial and government) alongside our MSP, working with the MSP and internal security and compliance teammates to maintain the technical requirements of our CMMC L2 posture. The longer arc is bigger: defining how IT operates as a function as we grow. We plan to hire additional IT staff and want someone who can help think through what that team looks like, but this is not a management requirement. If you want to stay hands-on later, you can.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the internal technical owner for our Microsoft 365 commercial and GCC-High environments, administering identity, device management, and productivity tooling.
• Act as the primary internal counterpart to our MSP, coordinating on network operations, changes, and issue resolution while maintaining internal accountability for outcomes.
• Work with security and GRC to maintain configuration management practices aligned to NIST 800-171 technical controls, with an eye toward repeatability, auditability, and scale.
• Contribute to IT architecture decisions, including environment design, tooling selection, and segmentation strategy as the company scales.
• Build out IT operational documentation, runbooks, and procedures that can support future hires and reduce single-point-of-failure risk.
• Partner cross-functionally with compliance, security, and engineering to ensure technical decisions align with regulatory requirements and business needs.

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of systems administration experience with meaningful depth in Microsoft cloud environments (Intune, Entra ID, Purview, Exchange Online).
• Hands-on experience with NIST 800-171 control implementation in a technical capacity.
• Demonstrated experience with configuration management practices and tooling across Windows and Linux environments.
• Experience managing or coordinating with an MSP, including holding vendors accountable and supplementing coverage where needed.
• Able to lead environment design conversations, not just execute on them.
• Strong documentation habits and communication skills suited to a cross-functional environment where IT is one piece of a broader compliance and security program.
• Experience taking charge of efforts and setting a direction.
• U.S. citizenship required

Bonus Points

• Experience working in GCC-H.
• Experience with multi-cloud environments (e.g., AWS and Microsoft)
• Interest in eventually building and leading an IT team as the company grows.
• Experience with segregated environments (OT, manufacturing, hardware test) is a big plus.
• Experience designing or evolving IT programs at a startup or high-growth company.
• Scripting or automation experience (PowerShell, Bash, Python) to support configuration management and operational efficiency.
• Current clearance (Secret or above)

Why You’ll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)

Base Salary: $140,000 to $190,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. 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. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!