Full-Time
Quality Manager
Kraken Kinetics
11-50 employees
Manufactures high-performance warheads for unmanned systems
Compensation Overview
$80k - $115k/yr
Pinehurst, NC, USA
In Person
Relocation support is available for the right candidates.
Bachelor's
 Manufacturing Quality & Test |
|---|
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- A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Industrial Technology, or a related technical field is required; equivalent experience may be considered.
- At least 5 years of quality management, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality experience is required.
- Experience implementing and maintaining formal quality management systems is required.
- Experience leading audits, corrective action programs, and quality investigations is required.
- Experience with First Article Inspection, Material Review Boards, and supplier quality management is required.
- Working knowledge of inspection methods, calibration systems, and technical documentation control is required.
- Strong technical writing, problem-solving, and organizational skills are required.
- Establish, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Kraken Kinetics Quality Management System.
- Develop and maintain quality policies, procedures, work instructions, forms, and quality records.
- Lead efforts to obtain and maintain applicable quality certifications and registrations.
- Plan, conduct, and manage internal audits and support customer and third-party audits.
- Conduct management reviews and maintain quality performance metrics.
- Govern First Article Inspection activities and acceptance processes.
- Establish incoming, in-process, and final inspection requirements.
- Develop inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and sampling methodologies.
- Oversee and administer Nondestructive Testing programs.
- Review and approve inspection records and product acceptance documentation.
- Chair Material Review Boards and disposition nonconforming material.
- Lead corrective and preventive action activities.
- Conduct root cause investigations and corrective action implementation.
- Manage supplier quality requirements, evaluations, audits, and corrective actions.
- Monitor quality metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support customer complaint investigations and resolution activities.
- Maintain oversight of calibration and metrology systems for measurement and test equipment.
- Support management of export-controlled quality records and compliance documentation.
- Maintain quality-related registrations, certifications, and regulatory records.
- Ensure quality records are maintained in accordance with company and customer requirements.
- Build and develop the Kraken Kinetics quality organization.
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, and supervision of quality personnel.
- Initially perform the duties of Quality Inspector and Compliance and Calibration Manager until those positions are established and staffed.
- Execute inspection, audit, calibration oversight, compliance administration, and corrective action activities as required during the growth phase of the organization.
- Provide quality training and guidance across Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, and Programs.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, or similar certification.
- ISO 9001 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification.
- Experience supporting Department of Defense programs or defense contractors.
- Experience with AS9100, AS9102, NAS 410, and Nondestructive Testing programs.
- Experience supporting low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with ITAR-controlled operations and defense industry compliance requirements.
Kraken Kinetics develops high-performance warheads and fuzing systems for unmanned and autonomous military platforms. The company designs and manufactures mission-tailored kinetic munitions (including tungsten fragmentation, shaped charge, EFP, thermobaric, and reactive materials) and advanced fuzing, with products like the Terminus warhead that uses a LIDAR height-of-burst sensor to defeat vehicle armor. Its weapons are deployed on drones and in drone swarms, and the firm has demonstrated multi-target EFP strikes controlled by a single operator. The organization leverages a background from a government group that pioneered kinetic drones for the DoD, enabling rapid development and scalable production through proprietary design tools. Kraken Kinetics aims to provide modular, cost-effective, and scalable munitions for small drones and to secure large-scale production contracts for national security applications.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
N/A
Founded
2023
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- May 2026 DIU recognition placed Kraken on a preferred munitions list.
- 2026 hiring spanned engineering, compliance, finance, and production, signaling active scale-up.
- Terminus saw operational use in Ukraine and demos with Army Rangers and Marines.
What critics are saying
- Kraken still chases preferred-list status; contracts remain unannounced after May 2026.
- Warhead manufacturing faces export-control and safety compliance friction at Pinehurst facilities.
- Northrop Grumman and Bravo Ordnance pressure margins on the Pentagon’s same payload problem.
What makes Kraken Kinetics unique
- 2026 Drone Dominance win validates Kraken’s modular small-drone lethality payloads.
- Terminus pairs EFP warheads with LIDAR height-of-burst sensing for armored targets.
- Founders came from a government kinetic-drones group, speeding DoD integration.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Paid Vacation