QA Engineering Manager

At Skyways, we are building the future of air transportation with fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Backed by significant funding, including a $37M STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we operate at the intersection of commercial and defense markets. We have designed, built, and flown aircraft with real customers and government partners, and are now entering the next phase of the company: scaling toward production.

Based in Austin, TX and supported by top investors including Y Combinator, Skyways blends rapid iteration with real world deployment. We design, test, and operate our systems in the field, then bring those learnings directly back into engineering and product decisions. As we grow, we are looking for builders and leaders who want real ownership, technical depth, and the opportunity to help take an aircraft from successful deployments to full production.

The Opportunity

The QA Engineering Manager will build Skyways’ quality foundation from the ground up. This is not a policy role. It is an opportunity to design and lead how quality is embedded into everything we design, build, and fly.

You will be the first person in this function, owning quality across the full lifecycle from receiving and development through production and delivery. You will create the systems and processes that make quality inseparable from how Skyways operates, ensuring every part, assembly, and aircraft meets the highest standards before it leaves the floor.

This role is for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who thrives in new territory. You will jump into the unknown, build structure where there is none, and make quality a core advantage for Skyways as we scale.

What You Will Do::
• Build and lead Skyways’ Quality Assurance function from the ground up.
• Create and implement a complete Quality Management System covering receiving, development, production, and final delivery.
• Establish clear inspection and documentation processes at every step, from parts arriving to aircraft shipping out.
• Partner with production and engineering to define QA checkpoints, resolve issues, and drive root cause improvements.
• Manage supplier quality and incoming inspection programs.
• Ensure documentation, traceability, and accountability through every build.
• Prepare the company for FAA, DoD, and ISO audits.
• Build a culture where quality and speed coexist.

What You Will Bring::
• 8+ years of experience in quality assurance or quality engineering in aerospace, defense, or automotive manufacturing.
• Proven experience setting up and scaling QMS processes in a production environment.
• Deep understanding of AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent frameworks.
• Hands on approach to solving production and supplier issues.
• Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and flight teams.
• Strong documentation habits and attention to detail.
• Passion for aviation and for building real systems that fly.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident due to ITAR regulations.

Bonus Points If You Have::
• Experience bringing new aircraft or complex systems into production.
• Familiarity with UAV operations, flight testing, or airworthiness certification.
• Startup experience building quality programs from zero.

Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!

Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.