Vatn Systems · 1 day ago
Quality Manager
Bristol, RI
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expVatn Systems is a company that designs and builds cutting-edge Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for undersea exploration and defense. They are seeking a Quality Manager to build and lead their quality function, ensuring reliable performance of their vehicles through the entire manufacturing process.
Information TechnologyInternetManufacturing
Hiring Manager
Brendan Smith
Responsibilities
Own and continuously improve the company’s quality management system across design, manufacturing, test, and supplier operations
Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (RCA/CAPA) for internal, supplier, and field issues
Define and enforce inspection, test, and acceptance criteria for electro-mechanical assemblies, integrated systems, and final vehicle integration
Partner with engineering to drive design for manufacturability, reliability, and compliance with defense and marine standards
Build and manage supplier quality programs, including supplier audits, incoming inspection, SCARs, and first article inspections
Establish, track, and report key quality metrics such as yield, defect rates, rework, escapes, and reliability trends
Author and maintain quality documentation including control plans, inspection procedures, test protocols, and work instructions
Train and mentor technicians, engineers, and supervisors on quality tools, standards, and best practices
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce variation, improve reliability, and enable production scale
Lead preparation for and support of quality certifications and compliance efforts (ISO 9001, AS9100, defense/marine standards)
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related engineering discipline
7+ years of experience in quality engineering or quality management within a complex electromechanical, robotics, defense, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing environment
Demonstrated experience owning quality systems and leading RCA/CAPA efforts in production environments
Strong working knowledge of inspection methods, measurement systems, and quality tools (GD&T, CMM, IPC, SPC, etc.)
Solid understanding of ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 quality management systems; defense or marine experience strongly preferred
Proven ability to work cross functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and test teams
Strong data driven mindset with the ability to define, analyze, and communicate quality metrics
Clear communicator who can operate effectively with shop-floor teams and executive leadership
Comfortable operating in a fast paced environment where processes are being built in parallel with production
Preferred
Master's degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or equivalent certification
Experience implementing or scaling ISO 9001 / AS9100 systems in a growing manufacturing organization
Familiarity with defense, aerospace, or marine standards (e.g., MIL-STD, IPC-J-STD)
Direct experience with supplier quality management, including audits, PPAP, and first article inspections
Background in statistical process control, reliability engineering, and failure analysis
Experience with digital manufacturing systems (ERP/MRP, MES, Palantir Foundry, or similar)
Track record of building quality organizations in startups or rapid-growth production environments
Company
Vatn Systems
Vatn Systems designs underwater vehicles that support maritime operations through modular platforms and navigation technologies.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$73MKey Investors
Bravo Victor Venture CapitalDYNE Ventures.
2025-12-10Series A· $60M
2024-11-12Seed· $13M
Leadership Team
Dan H.
Head of Business Development
Recent News
Providence Business News
2026-01-11
2026-01-09
2026-01-09
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