Head of Quality & Metallurgy

This is NTNU​ NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0Om stillingen​ At the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) we have an available position for an Associate or Full Professor within the field of physical metallurgy. We are looking for an experimentalist specialized in casting and solidification of metals, who demonstrates in-depth knowledge and a strong track record in the use of advanced material characterization techniques within light- and electron-optical microscopy. Administratively, the position is linked to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (IMA) at the Faculty of Natural Sciences (NV) at NTNU. The department includes the areas of functional materials and materials chemistry, electrochemical technologies and corrosion, physical metallurgy, and process metallurgy, with an emphasis on light metals, ferroalloys, and silicon. The position will be associated with the group of physical metallurgy, which currently consists of three professors and one associate professor. The group has a strong national and international network, and is currently involved in several large research centers (SFI-PhysMet, SFI-FAST and FME-Solar). Within this group, we wish to strengthen our research activities related to the areas of casting and solidification, metallography and electron-optical instruments, atom probe tomography, microstructure and texture characterization, characterization of mechanical properties, multi-scale modeling, joining, and forming of metals, with a merited and motivated candidate. Research and teaching in physical metallurgy are mainly related to light metals, steel, and silicon, with a historical emphasis on light metals. We provide education at all levels, from undergraduate studies in materials engineering to supervision of MSc students and PhD candidates, and related advanced courses.   Your immediate leader is the head of department.  Duties of the position​ • You will participate in the department’s R&D activities and take initiative in developing the research area of casting and solidification. • You will contribute to generating external research funding. • You will contribute to the development of the study programs at the department. • You will contribute to the department’s teaching activities at all levels. • You will be responsible for participating with the rest of the scientific staff in administrative tasks, including laboratory management, especially related to research and teaching.  Required qualifications ​ For both Associated and Full Professor:​ You must have the following qualifications required for the position:  • Doctoral degree in metallurgy or another relevant scientific field or competence at an equivalent level documented by scientific work of the same scope and quality. • Strong track record in experimental casting and solidification of metals • Demonstrate knowledge and in-depth use of characterization techniques like classic metallography, SEM, EDS, and EBSD. • Educational competence documented in a teaching portfolio • Good communication skills and fluent in English, both oral and written   Additional requirements for full professor must be documented: • Significant contributions to research at the highest level, in accordance with international or national standards in the field • Quality development in own teaching and supervision over time and a high degree of reflection on own practice documented in a teaching portfolio • Broad experience with supervision, preferably at master's/PhD level • Initiate, lead and/or participate in the development of educational quality in the academic communities • Competence in knowledge in use (innovation, dissemination and interaction with society) and/or • Academic leadership and elected posts/appointed roles. • An established scientific network within relevant scientific communities demonstrated by commissions of trust, leadership and society participation.   ----------------- For both of the categories:  You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the NTNUs guidelines for academic positions. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2 of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.  Preferred qualifications​ • Experience from industry or industrial research collaboration • Knowledge and network in the Norwegian metal industry • Scandinavian speaking • Demonstrate experience with Integrated Computational Materials Engineering approach that integrates computational modeling, experimental characterization, and data analysis Personal qualities​ • Motivated and passionate about physical metallurgy • You are an outgoing person with a network in relevant professional environments and industry • Able to build long-term collaborations and foster relationships with colleagues both at the department level and within the international scientific community • You are an initiative-taking person and want to revitalize the field • You thrive with periods of high work pace and are able to meet tight deadlines for proposals and funding applications amongst regular teaching and departmental duties. • You have a passion for educating materials scientists for the future   Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.  We offer ​ • Exciting and challenging tasks in a dynamic and international academic environment • An open and inclusive working environment, with enthusiastic colleagues • Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund • employee benefits Application Process​ You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/bwfNPj8HxHwSalary and conditions​ As Associate Professor / Professor (code 1011 /1013) you are normally paid from gross xxx – xxx per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.    After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.  For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.  About the application​ Your application and supporting documentation must be in English.  The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.  Please note:​ the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. Your application must include • CV, diplomas, and certificates • A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically,   (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of educational competence • Academic works – published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 10 items) • A description of the scientific works you consider most relevant, which you particularly wish to be factored into the assessment • A complete publication list • A research plan • Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope • Names and contact information for three relevant referees It is important that you both document and reflect on your competence. You are encouraged to use the NTNUs competence matrix as a guide for  documentation of your competence. Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.  In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an open scientific practice will be recognized. NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight. Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session. General information​ Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.    We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.   If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.  At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.  As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes. A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted. For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given expert evaluations of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and are stipulated by rules of confidentiality.  If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Ida Westermann, e-mail ida.westermann@ntnu.no.  If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Joakim Junge Henriksen, e-mail Joakim.henriksen@ntnu.no Application deadline: 17.08.2026​ -----------------   The city of Trondheim​ is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

POSITION SUMMARY The Head of Quality is a senior leadership position responsible for establishing, implementing, and maturing all quality management functions across Atropos Group's development and production operations. This role is the company's primary quality authority and will serve as the central driver of the Production Approval process — leading the quality system infrastructure, processes, and organizational readiness required to achieve an FAA Production Certificate (PC). The Head of Quality will build and lead a high-performing quality organization from the ground up, shaping the culture, systems, and procedures necessary to support production certification activities, entry into service, and long-term operational excellence in a highly regulated aerospace environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES FAA PRODUCTION CERTIFICATION & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE * Serve as the company's primary quality authority and key point of contact for all FAA Production Certificate (PC) activities * Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) to satisfy FAA PC requirements under 14 CFR Part 21 * Coordinate directly with FAA personnel and Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DARs) throughout the PC application and approval process * Develop and maintain the Production Approval Holder (PAH) quality manual, quality procedures, and associated command media in support of PC issuance * Support Type Certificate (TC) activities by ensuring that design-to-production traceability, conformity inspections, and first article evaluations are executed in compliance with FAA requirements * Monitor and interpret applicable FAA regulations, policy updates, and airworthiness directives for impact on quality processes and production readiness * Lead internal and external quality audits in support of FAA oversight, including responses to findings and implementation of corrective actions QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (QMS) DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE * Architect and implement a scalable, AS9100D-aligned QMS that supports both current development activities and future high-rate production * Establish and maintain the full suite of quality procedures, work instructions, and forms constituting the company's quality command media structure * Drive QMS integration across all functional areas including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management * Develop and maintain Quality plans for all major programs, ensuring appropriate inspection, verification, and validation gates are defined and executed * Own the internal audit program, including scheduling, execution, corrective action tracking, and management review inputs * Establish and monitor quality KPIs and metrics to provide leadership with visibility into system health and performance trends * Lead periodic Management Review processes and provide executive leadership with quality system status reports and improvement recommendations * Ensure seamless integration between the QMS and the company’s Safety Management System (SMS), establishing clear interfaces between quality processes and the four SMS components defined under 14 CFR Part 5 (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion) * Collaborate with the SMS program manager to ensure that nonconformance data, CAPA outcomes, and audit findings feed into the SMS Safety Assurance function, supporting hazard identification, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring obligations under Part 5 * Support development of integrated QMS/SMS documentation architecture to avoid duplication, ensure traceability across both systems, and present a cohesive compliance posture to the FAA during PC and SMS acceptance activities PRODUCTION QUALITY & NONCONFORMANCE MANAGEMENT * Establish and lead all production quality functions including receiving inspection, in-process inspection, and final acceptance activities * Own and administer the Material Review Board (MRB) process, including disposition of nonconforming materials, components, and assemblies * Develop and implement robust nonconformance reporting (NCR) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes that drive root cause elimination * Ensure First Article Inspection (FAI) processes comply with AS9102 requirements and support the TC/PC certification record * Implement statistical process control (SPC) and other data-driven quality tools to monitor production process stability and capability * Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to establish and enforce inspection points, acceptance criteria, and product definition compliance checkpoints * Develop and maintain test and inspection records management systems to support airworthiness documentation and regulatory traceability SUPPLIER QUALITY MANAGEMENT * Establish and oversee the supplier quality program, including qualification, surveillance, and performance management for the approved supplier list (ASL) * Define and implement supplier quality requirements, flow-down clauses, and quality purchase order terms aligned with AS9100D and FAA regulations * Lead supplier audits and assessments, including delegation of Supplier Source Inspection where required * Manage supplier corrective action processes and ensure timely resolution of supplier-originated nonconformances * Collaborate with Supply Chain on supplier selection, risk assessment, and development initiatives to build a capable and compliant supplier base TEAM LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT * Build, lead, and develop a high-performing quality organization scaled to meet the demands of the production ramp and PC certification milestones * Establish organizational structure, roles, and hiring plan for the quality function in alignment with the overall manufacturing headcount roadmap * Foster a culture of quality consciousness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire organization * Implement talent development programs, training curricula, and succession planning for key quality positions * Serve as a senior voice for quality in cross-functional forums, program reviews, and executive-level discussions QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION * Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Systems, or a related technical field required * Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or Business Administration preferred * Professional certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or equivalent highly desirable EXPERIENCE * Minimum 12 years of progressive quality experience, with at least 5 years in senior quality leadership roles within aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing * Demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting an FAA Production Certificate application and approval process * Deep working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 (Production Approval), Part 43, and related FAA regulatory frameworks governing production quality * Hands-on experience developing and implementing AS9100D-compliant QMS from an early-stage or startup manufacturing environment strongly preferred * Proven track record managing MRB authority, nonconformance disposition, and CAPA programs in a production environment * Experience conducting and managing internal and supplier quality audits, including corrective action follow-up * Background in First Article Inspection (AS9102), acceptance test procedures, and production conformity documentation * Familiarity with ITAR/EAR compliance requirements and their implications for quality records management and data handling TECHNICAL SKILLS * Expert knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21 Production Approval requirements and FAA PC certification processes * Strong working knowledge of AS9100D Quality Management System requirements and audit methodology * Familiarity with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements and conformity documentation standards * Proficiency with quality management tools including FMEA, SPC, Root Cause Analysis, and related methodologies * Experience with PLM and MES systems in a production environment; familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter or equivalent preferred * Strong analytical and data interpretation skills; ability to translate quality data into actionable insights for leadership   LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES * Exceptional ability to build quality organizations and systems from early-stage foundations toward full production readiness * Strategic thinker who can balance near-term certification deliverables with long-term system maturity goals * Strong communicator and collaborator capable of engaging credibly with FAA personnel, executive leadership, and production teams alike * Decisive and technically grounded — able to make sound risk acceptance decisions under pressure * Change agent mindset with demonstrated ability to drive quality culture in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment * High integrity and attention to detail; models the standard of compliance and rigor expected of the broader organization * Effective mentor and people developer committed to building lasting organizational quality capability WORKING CONDITIONS * Professional office and manufacturing environment; regular presence on the production floor expected as facilities come online * Domestic travel required (up to 20-30%) for supplier visits/audits, FAA meetings, and industry engagements * Initially remote with transition to on-site at Atropos manufacturing headquarters; exact location to be determined in connection with facility site selection * May require extended hours during critical certification milestones, audit preparation periods, or production launch activities * Must be authorized to work in the United States; ability to work with ITAR-controlled technical data required