Urban Sky
Head of Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance Denver, CO
Urban Sky, Denver, Colorado, United States
Overview
About Urban Sky:
Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that designs, builds, operates, and sells stratospheric balloon systems. Our data supports applications from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping, and our technology is used by government customers including DoD and NASA. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. We strive for a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment, and we are building the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver. We are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. About The Role:
We are seeking a leader in safety, quality, and mission assurance to join our team in Denver, CO. This role will foster a collaborative culture of safety and quality to enhance safety, quality, reliability, and mission success of Urban Sky’s stratospheric systems. The role requires collaboration with product management, manufacturing, design, and operations to develop processes, systems, and strategies that improve safety and reliability of balloons, payloads, avionics, firmware, and software. The successful candidate will empower engineers and technicians to own safety and reliability while following guidance. Responsibilities
Develop and implement Quality Management Systems aligning with industry standards and ensuring product quality and compliance. Exposure to ISO 9001, AS9100 is desirable but not required; lead the implementation of tools such as DFMEAs, PFMEAs, and Control Plans to ensure safety, quality, and reliability from ideation through manufacturing and mission execution. Monitor safety compliance and quality performance, and implement systems to track these metrics. Identify quality issues, investigate root causes, and lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Develop training for staff on quality standards, best practices, and quality tools to foster a culture of quality. Collaborate with suppliers to ensure materials and services meet quality standards. Drive continuous improvement in product quality, processes, and operational efficiency using Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen where appropriate. Ensure compliance with safety regulations and quality standards; document compliance through reports and certifications. Maintain records of safety decisions, risk management, quality inspections, audit results, corrective actions, and other mission safety and quality documents; report to upper management. Lead safety reviews prior to stratospheric flights; evaluate mission successes and failures and incorporate lessons learned into future missions. Define and implement a mission assurance program aligned with internal requirements and regulatory/contractual obligations (e.g., DoD, FAA, NASA). Coordinate and lead Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs). Develop and maintain a flight safety management system, including ground operations, airspace integration, and recovery procedures. Perform System Safety/ hazard analyses (SSHA, PHA, OHA) for balloon launch and recovery operations. Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management, or equivalent experience. 5-10+ years in safety, quality, quality control, or quality assurance roles with increasing responsibilities including management. Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to push back diplomatically to protect safety and quality standards. Project management ability to lead quality and safety initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Analytical skills to analyze data and generate quality performance reports. Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills
Experience leading Safety & Mission Assurance activities for high-consequence systems (e.g., FRRs, test/mishap evaluation). Ability to apply lessons learned from flight tests into engineering and procedural improvements. Proficiency with statistical tools such as Minitab for quality data analysis. Familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, or similar quality management standards. Meticulous documentation of inspections, test results, risk assessments, safety reviews, and quality records. Requirements
Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident Must be located near Denver, CO and work at the company’s Denver office Willing to consider relocation Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000 per year Stock options; medical, vision, and dental coverage Unlimited vacation days; maternity/paternity leave Employers note: This salary range is posted per Colorado law; final offer determined by experience and abilities We expect all team members to actively leverage and adapt to emerging AI tools as part of daily workflow. Proficiency with job-relevant AI tools is expected and integral to success in this role. EEO Note:
Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants who believe they have the skills and passion to apply. This position may involve handling export-controlled information and compliance with export regulations. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent on obtaining such authorization. Apply for this job First Name * Last Name * Preferred First Name Email * Phone Resume/CV Education Degree School LinkedIn Profile Website Are you a US Citizen or Permanent Resident? * Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, respond to the voluntary self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and confidential. Information collected is used for equal employment opportunity reporting. The form is not a condition of employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status. Categories of veterans and disabilities may be selected as part of the voluntary survey. Details follow in the form sections and are provided to measure outreach and compliance with applicable laws. Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Public burden statement and details about the form, including the option to skip, are provided where applicable.
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About Urban Sky:
Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that designs, builds, operates, and sells stratospheric balloon systems. Our data supports applications from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping, and our technology is used by government customers including DoD and NASA. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. We strive for a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment, and we are building the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver. We are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. About The Role:
We are seeking a leader in safety, quality, and mission assurance to join our team in Denver, CO. This role will foster a collaborative culture of safety and quality to enhance safety, quality, reliability, and mission success of Urban Sky’s stratospheric systems. The role requires collaboration with product management, manufacturing, design, and operations to develop processes, systems, and strategies that improve safety and reliability of balloons, payloads, avionics, firmware, and software. The successful candidate will empower engineers and technicians to own safety and reliability while following guidance. Responsibilities
Develop and implement Quality Management Systems aligning with industry standards and ensuring product quality and compliance. Exposure to ISO 9001, AS9100 is desirable but not required; lead the implementation of tools such as DFMEAs, PFMEAs, and Control Plans to ensure safety, quality, and reliability from ideation through manufacturing and mission execution. Monitor safety compliance and quality performance, and implement systems to track these metrics. Identify quality issues, investigate root causes, and lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Develop training for staff on quality standards, best practices, and quality tools to foster a culture of quality. Collaborate with suppliers to ensure materials and services meet quality standards. Drive continuous improvement in product quality, processes, and operational efficiency using Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen where appropriate. Ensure compliance with safety regulations and quality standards; document compliance through reports and certifications. Maintain records of safety decisions, risk management, quality inspections, audit results, corrective actions, and other mission safety and quality documents; report to upper management. Lead safety reviews prior to stratospheric flights; evaluate mission successes and failures and incorporate lessons learned into future missions. Define and implement a mission assurance program aligned with internal requirements and regulatory/contractual obligations (e.g., DoD, FAA, NASA). Coordinate and lead Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs). Develop and maintain a flight safety management system, including ground operations, airspace integration, and recovery procedures. Perform System Safety/ hazard analyses (SSHA, PHA, OHA) for balloon launch and recovery operations. Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management, or equivalent experience. 5-10+ years in safety, quality, quality control, or quality assurance roles with increasing responsibilities including management. Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to push back diplomatically to protect safety and quality standards. Project management ability to lead quality and safety initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Analytical skills to analyze data and generate quality performance reports. Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills
Experience leading Safety & Mission Assurance activities for high-consequence systems (e.g., FRRs, test/mishap evaluation). Ability to apply lessons learned from flight tests into engineering and procedural improvements. Proficiency with statistical tools such as Minitab for quality data analysis. Familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, or similar quality management standards. Meticulous documentation of inspections, test results, risk assessments, safety reviews, and quality records. Requirements
Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident Must be located near Denver, CO and work at the company’s Denver office Willing to consider relocation Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000 per year Stock options; medical, vision, and dental coverage Unlimited vacation days; maternity/paternity leave Employers note: This salary range is posted per Colorado law; final offer determined by experience and abilities We expect all team members to actively leverage and adapt to emerging AI tools as part of daily workflow. Proficiency with job-relevant AI tools is expected and integral to success in this role. EEO Note:
Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants who believe they have the skills and passion to apply. This position may involve handling export-controlled information and compliance with export regulations. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent on obtaining such authorization. Apply for this job First Name * Last Name * Preferred First Name Email * Phone Resume/CV Education Degree School LinkedIn Profile Website Are you a US Citizen or Permanent Resident? * Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, respond to the voluntary self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and confidential. Information collected is used for equal employment opportunity reporting. The form is not a condition of employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status. Categories of veterans and disabilities may be selected as part of the voluntary survey. Details follow in the form sections and are provided to measure outreach and compliance with applicable laws. Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Public burden statement and details about the form, including the option to skip, are provided where applicable.
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