Director of Assurance

SkyGrid, a Boeing, Avathon Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds ground based high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operations and airspace integration of highly automated and autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as a key operational nexus for advanced air mobility, integrating and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support seamless and efficient air traffic services. 

The SkyGrid team is looking for a Director of Assurance, who will manage quality, safety, reliability, maintainability, cyber security, and certification organizations. This position reports directly to the CEO and ensures that company operating standards and product/program meet the assurance and certification standards. You will help define the regulatory strategy for certifying the system in relevant international location so you will interact with certification authorities and standard organizations. The ideal candidate will have a background in quality, safety, cyber security, or certification and be familiar with Quality Management System (QMS), Safety Management System (SMS), or Security Management System (SecMS) and associated standards such as AS9100 or NIST 800-53. You will be the principal owner of the processes, operating procedures, work instructions, enforcement for all things assurance and certification, and be a representative to the regulators. You will work closely with Engineering and Program organizations to define processes, methods, and enforce compliance.  

• Develop QMS, SMS, SecMS within the first year 
• Ensure Cyber, Safety, and Quality corporate and product assurance is identified and reached 
• Ensure compliance at the product/program level per planning document  
• Manage teams and ensure staffing needs are identified 
• Manage and report assurance and certification risks and elevated for resolution in a timely manner 
• Streamline and align shared requirements and processes across the organization 

• Develop and coordinate corporate level QMS, SMS, and SecMS through business pyramid 
• Develop company policies, operating procedures, and work instructions  
• Ensure audit process exists for compliance at company and product/program level 
• Able to understand regulatory standards and decipher level of compliance required 
• Identify company and program risks and communicate to relevant parties for timely resolution 
• Act as a principal contact to regulatory authorities for assurance and certification 
• Monitor new and novel standards that may be levied to the company or program 
• Act as a mentor to team members and managers 
• Hire and manage resources under assurance and certification organizations 
• Represent the voice of regulator internally
• Represent SkyGrid at industry organizations and events 
• Local candidate is preferred but remote employment will be considered. 

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM, MBA, or higher 
• 10+ years of experience working in a highly technical, aerospace-related industry 
• 5+ years of experience in quality, safety, reliability and maintainability, cyber security or certification 
• Strong communication skills, self-driven, and capable of participating in regulatory focused discussions 
• Managed multiple teams and worked in multi-disciplinary teams  
• Familiar with Quality AS9100, Safety, Reliability and Maintainability ARP4761, Cyber Security NIST 800-53 or 800-171, or Certification 14 CFR Part 23, 25, 27 standards 
• Must be a US person

• Presenting concisely to large group of people including customers, regulatory authorities, internal technical groups, leadership team 
• Willing to relocate to Austin 

• Comprehensive Health Coverage from Day One: Enjoy immediate access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, including HSA and FSA options.
• Generous Retirement Contributions: Benefit from an automatic company 401k contribution program, with no match required, plus an additional company matching program to boost your retirement savings.
• Calm Annual Membership: Prioritize your mental health with complimentary access to mindfulness and meditation resources.
• Discounted ClassPass Membership: Stay active and healthy with access to thousands of fitness studios and gyms nationwide.
• Investment in Your Growth: Receive an annual stipend for learning and development to support your continuous education and skill development
• Engaging Team Activities: Participate in quarterly team-building events and celebrations organized by our dedicated culture committee.
• Fully Stocked Kitchen: Enjoy a variety of snacks and beverages to keep you fueled throughout the day.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

An employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, if it does not pose undue hardship.