Description
****Statement to Applicants: This position is unable to accommodate sponsorship****
Central UAS Technologies, a vertical of Central Life Sciences, is dedicated to the creation of uncrewed aerial systems which have a direct positive impact on public health, quality of life and innovative technologies for the agricultural industry. Your meaningful work will help reduce the spread of vector-borne disease, as well as limit the amount of chemicals or emissions released into the environment (through rural and urban municipalities, agricultural applications, horticultural applications, and more!). You’ll accomplish this work from our assembly shop in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Our parent company is Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT and CENTA); we offer an amazing educational assistance program in addition to great medical, dental, vision, which you will be eligible the first of the month following 30 days, plus free life and free disability insurance. Our 401k has a 3% match, and you are eligible day one. We also offer pet insurance and other voluntary benefits. Please see our website at www.central.com for additional company information.
The Regulatory & Quality Compliance Officer (FAA) provides leadership over quality systems, regulatory alignment, and product conformity across UAS design, manufacturing, and operations. This role establishes the policies, metrics, and escalation paths that protect safety, reliability, and regulatory standing as the company scales production and fielded fleets.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Quality System Ownership-
Owns the overall quality management system, including internal audits, external assessments, and certification efforts
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Define quality objectives, KPIs, and review cadences that keep leadership informed and drive continuous improvement across production, R&D, procurement, and flight operations
Regulatory and Standards Compliance-
Ensures that design, production, and documentation practices remain aligned with applicable FAA guidance and relevant quality standards adopted by the company
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Work with Compliance and Documentation staff, the director maintains audit-ready records, clear configuration baselines, and robust controls around changes that may impact airworthiness and safety
Cross-Functional Leadership and Escalation
- Act as the primary escalation point for significant quality and compliance risks, including systemic defects, major field issues, or inspection findings
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Coordinate with Manufacturing, R&D, Flight Ops, and Procurement to prioritize and resolve cross-functional issues that affect product quality, delivery reliability, or regulatory posture
Continuous Improvement Strategy
- Oversee initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, and warranty burden while improving throughput and consistency
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Support deployment of practical, data-driven improvement methods, mentoring Quality and Manufacturing staff to use structured problem-solving and metrics to guide decisions
Team Development and Governance
- Provide direction and coaching to the Quality & Compliance team, including Quality Engineers, Coordinators, Warranty staff, and Compliance Specialists
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Ensure that responsibilities, authorities, and reporting lines are clear, and that the quality organization can scale to support increasing production volume and product complexity
QUALIFICATIONS
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Strong understanding of FAA regulatory expectations and quality system requirements for UAS operations and manufacturing
- Prior knowledge of UAS-specific compliance, including NDAA, Green List, and Blue List regulations, as well as familiarity with UAS certifications and FAA licensing requirements.
- Ability to enforce quality standards while maintaining effective cross-functional relationships
- Experience with internal audits, corrective action tracking, and controlled document systems
- Ability to interpret quality data, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
- Familiarity with configuration control, traceability, and release documentation
- Strong communication and leadership skills across Manufacturing, R&D, Flight Operations, Procurement, and Leadership teams
- Experience supporting or leading compliance reviews, audits, or certification readiness activities
- Experience in aerospace, aviation, or regulated technical environments preferred
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
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Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Engineering, Aviation, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered
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5+ years of experience in quality, compliance, manufacturing quality, or regulated operations
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Experience in aerospace, aviation, UAS, or another highly regulated environment preferred
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Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and process improvement
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Working knowledge of audit preparation, inspection response, and quality management systems
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Experience implementing or scaling quality systems across multiple departments
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FAA or aviation regulatory exposure preferred
WORKING CONDITIONS
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Based in a UAS manufacturing and operations environment in Daytona Beach, Florida
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Regular interaction with production floors, engineering teams, and flight operations environments
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Work may involve movement between office, shop, and field environments to support audits, inspections, and investigations
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Extended periods reviewing documentation, compliance records, and quality data
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Occasional travel required for audits, supplier evaluations, customer support, or field issue resolution
POSITION INFORMATION-
This position pays $50,000 - $70,000 per year depending on experience
BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS
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Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
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Free Life and Disability Insurance
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Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
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401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
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Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
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Employee Assistance Program
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Access to thousands of free online courses
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Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
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Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
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Referral Program with cash bonus
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Access to on-demand pay
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Paid parental leave
****Statement to Applicants: This position is unable to accommodate sponsorship****
Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market-leading brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Best Bully Sticks®, Cadet®, C&S®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Kaytee®, Nylabone®, Pennington®, Sevin® and Zoёcon®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.