Director, Product and Supplier Quality

About Otto Aerospace, Inc.   Otto is developing the world’s first fifth-generation business jet, designed for sustainability through the innovative use of advanced super-laminar aerodynamics and high-precision, net-shaped composites. Flight tests of our technology demonstrator validate a dramatic reduction in fuel burn and allow for a sizeable improvement in cabin comfort. Otto Aerospace designs world-class aircraft from first principles of physics and delivering ground-breaking aircraft and economic performance.   About the Role   Otto Aerospace is seeking a Director of Product and Supplier Quality to lead the execution of product quality and supplier quality activities across the organization.   Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this role is responsible for ensuring quality requirements are effectively implemented across supplier development, procurement, manufacturing, assembly, inspection, test, and aircraft build activities.   The Director serves as the operational leader for quality execution within Integrated Operations and is accountable to the COO for achieving quality performance outcomes that support program execution, certification, and production readiness.   This role maintains a strong partnership with the Chief Safety and Quality Officer (CSQO) and operates under a dotted-line relationship for compliance with company policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and Quality Management System (QMS) requirements established by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office.   Role Clarification: The Director owns execution of product and supplier quality activities. The CSQO retains ownership of enterprise governance, quality systems, regulatory interface, and enterprise-level quality oversight.   What You’ll Do   Quality Leadership and Strategy   Lead execution of product quality and supplier quality activities across the organization   Establish departmental objectives, priorities, staffing plans, and operational performance targets aligned with company goals   Build, lead, and develop a scalable quality execution organization capable of supporting aircraft development, certification, and production   Drive continuous improvement focused on defect prevention, process capability, and supplier performance   Represent Product and Supplier Quality within the Integrated Operations leadership team   Utilize enterprise quality data systems, dashboards, and performance metrics established by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office to manage operational performance   Ensure personnel are trained and qualified in accordance with training programs and standards defined by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office   Operational Quality Execution   Execute product quality activities including incoming inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, first article inspection, conformity, and nonconforming material control   Integrate quality requirements into manufacturing planning, production execution, inspection processes, and aircraft assembly operations   Monitor operational quality performance for product and supplier execution and drive corrective actions when performance objectives are not achieved, in alignment with enterprise performance frameworks   Support flight-test vehicle assembly, certification activities, and production readiness initiatives     Supplier Quality Leadership   Accountable for supplier quality performance within assigned programs and suppliers   Execute supplier qualification, surveillance, and performance management activities in accordance with approved supplier quality processes and governance frameworks   Partner with Supply Chain and Engineering to ensure supplier capability, product conformity, and risk mitigation   Drive supplier development and improvement initiatives across the supply base   Quality Compliance and Governance   Execute product and supplier quality activities in accordance with approved company procedures, regulatory requirements, and QMS standards   Maintain dotted-line accountability to the CSQO for compliance with quality system, regulatory, and governance requirements   Support internal audits, external audits, FAA assessments, and certification activities as directed by the Safety and Quality Assurance Office   Execute corrective actions and nonconformance resolution in accordance with the enterprise corrective action system   Escalate compliance concerns, systemic risks, and significant quality issues through established governance channels.   Boundary of Responsibility: The Director does not own Quality Management System governance, audit programs, regulatory interface, or enterprise quality system frameworks, which are the responsibility of the Safety and Quality Assurance Office.   Cross-Functional Leadership   Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Flight Test, Program Management, and Certification teams to support program execution   Provide quality leadership across product development, supplier selection, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and certification activities   Support organizational readiness for FAA production approval, AS9100 certification, and production scaling.   Organization Development   Lead and develop Product Quality and Supplier Quality organizations   Initially supervise the Supplier Quality Manager and perform Product Quality Manager responsibilities until the role is established   Build and scale the Product Quality organization, including future leadership and technical roles   Establish talent development, succession planning, and organizational growth strategies.   Who You Are   Education   Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, or related technical discipline required.   Experience   15+ years of progressive aerospace quality experience.   8+ years of leadership experience managing quality orga