Quality Manager

HyLight’s mission is to help society become more resilient to climate change by improving the observation and inspection of infrastructure. HyLight designs and operates **next-generation airships** for aerial inspections. Our aircraft collect LiDAR, imagery, and methane data to help utilities and infrastructure operators inspect their networks more efficiently and sustainably. Our activities include: * Detecting methane leaks from gas infrastructures (4% of global GHG emissions) * Inspecting power lines to prevent outages and wildfires By 2030, we aim to become the global leader in aerial monitoring.  In just 3 years, we have pushed the realm of possibilities: as we have: * Developed 8 iterations of the HyLighter * Logged over 200 flight hours * Secured our first inspection contracts with Europe’s largest infrastructure operators * Joined the world’s top startup accelerator, Y Combinator * Raised €6 millions HyLight is aiming for a diverse and included team, if your profile doesn't fit all the description but you can bring a diverse point of view, push it forward, it will be highly appreciated.\ \ We’re well-funded and backed by top investors, providing the resources you wish you had when building your own business. We don’t care about traditional roles or titles—just that you’re smart, proactive, and bring the same founder-level ownership and drive to help us build something massive. **Job Summary:** Operating with full autonomy and reporting directly to the Executive Committee, the Quality Manager ensures the integrity of product qualification and serial production phases. The successful candidate will implement and govern stringent Quality Gates for product release (Go-to-Production) and manufacturing workflows, ensuring absolute compliance with aerospace standards. Utilizing robust root-cause analysis, you will evaluate operational field returns, maintain end-to-end traceability, and engineer definitive Corrective Actions (CAPA). Acting as a strategic interface, you will collaborate with Production, Airworthiness, and deployment technicians to synthesize agile development with rigorous industrial standards.  **The Mission:** Under the guidance of the CEO, you will: * **Phase-Gate Governance (R&D to Serial Production):** Define and enforce the absolute quality thresholds separating the engineering R&D phase from serial manufacturing to prevent unstable product designs from entering the assembly line. * _Execution Examples (to be defined/selected by the hire):_ Implementing Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) frameworks, formal Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP), or rigorous Technology Readiness Level (TRL) phase-gate reviews. * **In-Line Quality Assurance & Inspections:** Design and embed mandatory physical and digital inspection points directly into the active assembly line to intercept manufacturing anomalies instantly. * _Execution Examples (to be defined/selected by the hire):_ Deploying Poka-Yoke (mistake-proofing) mechanisms, automated optical inspections (AOI), or Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts at critical control points. * **Traceability & Root Cause Analysis (RCA):** Standardize the technical intake of post-deployment failures and operational telemetry from the field. You will ensure every defect is meticulously tracked back to its precise batch, component, or assembly operator to eliminate systemic risks. * _Execution Examples (to be defined/selected by the hire):_ Establishing a closed-loop FRACAS (Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System) utilizing 8D problem-solving, Ishikawa (Fishbone) diagrams, or the 5 Whys methodology. **Personal Note from Martin (CEO)** _“We have successfully secured the commercial contracts that validate our technology and guarantee our market scaling phase. Now, our biggest challenge shifts from engineering design to industrial execution._ _To date, we have been building a few airships per year as a highly specialized team. Our immediate goal is to scale our capacity to support the production of a couple of dozen airships per year. To achieve this safely and efficiently, we must eliminate any tribal knowledge or manufacturing irregularities. Every single airship that leaves our facility must be identical, reliable, and built to repeatable standards._ _We are not looking for a bureaucrat to write heavy paperwork; we need a hands-on Quality Manager to build a lean, robust production gate system from the ground up. You will be given the autonomy to implement the exact methodologies you deem best to ensure strict configuration management. Your work will allow us to continuously iterate and improve our product out in the field, with the absolute certainty that we master our build configuration on the shop floor. If you are ready to bridge the gap between agile R&D and high-standard serial manufacturing, we want you on our team”_ **Profile Sought:** **Education:** Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Specialized coursework in Quality Management, Industrialization, or Manufacturing Engineering is highly appreciated.  **Technical Skills** * **Pragmatic Quality Frameworks (ISO 9001 / IATF 16949):** Deep understanding of ISO 9001 (or automotive IATF 16949 / aerospace EN9100), with a proven track record of adapting these standards to small, agile production lines without creating bottlenecks or unnecessary paperwork. * **Hands-on Core Tools (FMEA & Control Plans):** Ability to deeply analyze and interpret FMEA risk assessments to design and position practical, high-impact control gates and inspection points on the active assembly line; focuses on translating risk data into concrete floor-level checklists rather than just writing compliance paperwork.  * **Shop-Floor Problem Solving (8D & 5 Whys):** A proven track record of leading fast-paced 8D investigations directly on the assembly line or with suppliers. Must be comfortable diving into hardware failures, utilizing Ishikawa diagrams and the 5 Whys to fix issues in days, not months. * **Supplier Quality for Scaling:** Ability to quickly audit local and international suppliers to ensure incoming electronics, carbon fiber parts, or motors meet specifications before they hit our warehouse. * **Mechatronics & Line Testing Experience:** Practical experience setting up physical inspection stations on an active line. This includes defining Go/No-Go criteria for complex assemblies, managing calibration for test benches, and applying basic Statistical Process Control to track assembly defects in real-time. * **Soft Skills** * Autonomous and hands-on in project execution * Rigorous & Detail-Oriented: A natural eye for precision, ensuring no anomaly or drift in the assembly process goes unnoticed. * Assertive Leadership: Possesses the professional authority and confidence to stop the line or hold a release when quality thresholds are not met, while remaining collaborative with the production team. * Curious, eager to learn, and passionate about building and experimenting * Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team * Languages: English & French (preferably) **Bonus Qualities** * Capable of estimating progress, meeting timelines, and anticipating challenges **What We Offer:** * Annual compensation: €55,000 - €80,000 (based on experience) * Real responsibility and direct impact on cutting-edge autonomous flight technology * Mentorship with the Tech and Regulatory teams * Potential to become a shareholder in HyLight * 100% reimbursement of public transport pass (Navigo) or €800/year for sustainable commuting * Bike provided for commuting * Free lunch * Bi-annual offsite trips with the whole team * Excellent work environment: international team, team events, beautiful offices on a former airbase **Why You Should Join:** * Founder Mentality: We value extreme ownership and want people who think like founders, fast decision makers, natural problem solvers, and executers. * Ground Floor Opportunity: You’ll be helping to shape and grow a revolutionary company with the resources to back it. * Impact & Speed: Work in a fast-paced environment where your contributions will have immediate, tangible effects on the company’s success. **Interview Process:** * Introductory phone call (20-30 min) * Technical case study followed by a debrief with team member * On-site meeting with the team (3-4h) * Reference calls **Location:** * Office : Base 217, Brétigny-sur-Orge, accessible via RER C. * Lab and Warehouse access * You’ll work side-by-side with experts in embedded, aerospace, and hydrogen propulsion systems, where your impact matters from day one Visa sponsorship is offered for this role.