SMS & QMS Lead

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.

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

• 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

• 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