Quality and Safety Manager

Company Overview Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refuelling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats. Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared‑service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end‑to‑end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia‑Pacific. At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast‑moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia‑Pacific. Group Overview Aerospace Engineering Group (AERO) provides an integrated, end‑to‑end capability for the rapid modification and fielding of mission‑specific aircraft. The Airborne Asset Adaptation (A3) Cell acts as the central command and coordination hub, managing requirements and external interfaces from inception to operational delivery. Specialized technical execution is delivered by the Aircraft Integration Centre (AIC), a Part 145 facility focused on airframe modification, and Aerospace Design (ASD), which provides organic design engineering and FAA‑authorized certification. Collectively, these elements bridge the gap between initial requirements and the deployment of flight‑certified, mission‑ready assets. Position Summary In this role, you will be the senior authority for quality, safety, and operational compliance within Metrea’s Aircraft Integration Centre (AIC) at Tampa International Airport. You will be responsible for ensuring that all aircraft modification, integration, and maintenance activities are delivered compliantly, safely, and with disciplined execution. You will own and mature the AIC Quality Management System (QMS) and be accountable for implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the AIC Safety Management System (SMS), in line with direction and governance set by the Metrea enterprise SMS. Operating within a Part 145 and applicable Part 21 environment, you will ensure regulatory compliance, effective risk management, and continuous improvement across all AIC activities. In line with the Metrea Integrated Management System (IMS), you will also act as the AIC’s Operational Compliance Management Representative (OCMR). In this capacity, you will provide independent assurance that the AIC operates within its regulatory approvals, customer requirements, and internal processes, and that compliance performance is monitored, reported, and escalated through the IMS. You will be successful if you can balance independent oversight with practical delivery, embed safety and quality into day‑to‑day engineering and production activity, and provide clear, trusted advice to leadership in a fast‑moving aircraft modification environment. What You’ll Do Own, maintain, and continuously improve the AIC Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with FAA Part 145, applicable Part 21 requirements, customer contracts, and Metrea standards Serve as the primary authority for quality assurance objectives and activities within the AIC Implement, manage, and continually improve the AIC Safety Management System, aligned with the Metrea enterprise SMS and ICAO Annex 19 principles, tailored to a maintenance and modification environment Act as the AIC’s independent focal point for quality, safety, and operational compliance matters across maintenance, modification, integration, and ground operations Fulfill the role of Operational Compliance Management Representative (OCMR) for the AIC, providing structured and objective assurance of regulatory and contractual compliance through the Metrea IMS Plan and lead internal audits, surveillance, and compliance monitoring activities, ensuring findings are risk‑assessed, prioritised, and closed effectively Lead corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes, including root cause analysis and verification of corrective action effectiveness Ensure configuration control, documentation integrity, and disciplined adherence to approved processes across all AIC activities Manage safety reporting, occurrence investigation, and safety risk assessments, verifying the effectiveness of safety risk controls and corrective actions Provide independent, timely advice to the Head of AIC on quality performance, compliance status, safety trends, and emerging risks Ensure quality, safety, and compliance outputs feed into management reviews, Quality Review Boards, and Safety Review Boards Act as the primary interface between the AIC and Metrea enterprise Safety, Operational Compliance, and Training (SOCT) functions Build, mentor, and lead quality and safety personnel as the AIC scales, setting clear expectations for professionalism, ownership, and accountability What You Bring Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Engineering, Quality, Safety, or a related discipline 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in aviation quality, safety, and/or compliance within complex operational environments Significant experience in a Part 145 maintenance and/or Part 21 modification or production environment Strong working knowledge of FAA regulatory frameworks relevant to maintenance and modification, including Part 145 and applicable elements of Part 21 Proven experience implementing, operating, and improving formal management systems (QMS, SMS, IMS or equivalent) Demonstrated ability to lead audits, manage CAPA, conduct root cause analysis, and verify effectiveness Experience providing independent assurance and constructive challenge to senior operational leadership Strong written, verbal, and executive‑level communication skills, with the ability to brief complex issues clearly Experience with ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100, or similar aerospace quality frameworks Background in aircraft modification, integration, or missionised aviation programmes Familiarity with enterprise‑level integrated management systems and cross‑functional governance models Prior experience acting as an accountable, nominated, or representative holder for quality, safety, or compliance functions Additional Eligibility Qualifications Experience in aircraft modification, MRO, or missionised aviation environments Prior background as a certificated mechanic, engineer, pilot, or aviation safety professional is highly desirable Familiarity with Metrea Aviation Management System concepts or comparable integrated governance frameworks Eligible to work legally in the United States and able to obtain and maintain any required background checks or customer‑mandated security clearances Willingness to work primarily onsite in a hangar and flight‑line environment at Tampa International Airport, with occasional travel as required Benefits Comprehensive medical plan options HSA/FSA accounts Dental and vision coverage 6% employer 401(k) match Fully paid parental leave for all new parents Generous PTO Life and disability insurance Long‑term and short‑term disability coverage AD&D Coverage Pet Insurance Employee Assistance Program Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub Work Authorization / Security Clearance Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. AAP/EEO Statement The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full‑time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on‑call and available, as business needs require. Work Environment This job operates in an office setting. Travel 5% Our Firmware At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over‑Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems. Our team Firmware creates a web‑like, hyper‑collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision‑making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self‑organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance. #J-18808-Ljbffr Metrea