Quality & Compliance Manager
Work Location: Waterloo, ON
About Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC)
Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation is building the capabilities that will shape Canada's future in space, defence, and energy. We focus on developing dual use systems that address critical challenges here on Earth while enabling sustained human activity beyond it.
In a short time, CSMC has established real momentum. WE have secured significant government investment to advance next generation micro nuclear reactors in partnership with leading institutions, alongside expanding a portfolio of technologies designed for remote environments, national defence, and future space missions. These efforts reflect a broader ambition to deliver reliable power and critical infrastructure where it matters most.
Our work is grounded in close collaboration with government and guided by a clear sense of purpose: to build sovereign capability at a time when it has never been more important. We care deeply about execution, long term impact and earning the trust required to deliver systems that will service Canada and its allies for decades.
CSMC is a company for builders. We are a group of people drawn to hard problems, meaningful impact and the opportunity to shape systems that matter at a national and global scale. We are building a team that thrives in ambiguity, values execution, and is motivated by mission and impact.
Role Overview
CSMC is a space and defence company building mission-critical nuclear and space-adjacent systems in a highly regulated environment. We are seeking a Quality & Compliance Manager to build and operate our Quality Management System (QMS) from the ground up, lead our journey to ISO 9001 certification, and author/enforce the compliance policies and operating rhythms required to become Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and Contract Security Program (CSP) and ultimately navigate the CNSC regulatory landscape.
This is a hands-on leadership role in an early-stage environment: you’ll write the system, implement it pragmatically, train teams, run audits, qualify suppliers, close corrective actions, and make compliance a durable habit.
Reporting to the COO, with day-to-day partnership across Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Security/IT.
Main Responsibilities
- Build the QMS (ISO 9001 certification)
- Design, author, and implement a fit-for-purpose QMS including policy hierarchy, process map, procedures, templates, and records strategy aligned to ISO 9001 and scaled for a startup environment.
- Establish document control and records management, including governance, review/approval workflows, retention, and traceability (leveraging existing document numbering / PLM work).
Lead an ISO certification roadmap: gap assessment, implementation plan, internal audit cycles, management review cadence, and certification readiness.
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- Compliance programs (CGP / CSP readiness)
- Build the compliance framework needed to support CGP/CSP readiness, including information classification, access control, handling rules, supplier sharing controls, and training.
- Implement mechanisms to identify and manage export-controlled / controlled goods-relevant work in contracts and technical workflows
- Nuclear quality alignment (CNSC readiness over time)
- Align the management system to nuclear expectations using a graded approach and traceability principles already emerging in the company’s management system direction.
- Prepare the organization for future regulatory engagement by establishing auditable controls around:
- configuration management
- independent assessment
- procurement/supplier quality
- inspection/test controls
- nonconformance and CAPA
- training/qualification
- Audits, supplier quality, and corrective action (operational excellence)
- Establish and run an internal audit program and supplier audit/qualification program (planning, execution, reporting, closure)
- Own the Corrective Action Program (CAPA): nonconformance intake, containment, root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, effectiveness verification — and build a culture where issues are surfaced early.
Ensure quality requirements flow down into procurement documents and supplier deliverables, and that supplier performance is monitored and improved.
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- Quality culture and enablement
- Train and coach teams on quality/compliance processes; make adoption “easy by design.”
- Lead management reviews, quality metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Act as a cross-functional integrator Engineering - Supply Chain - Program Mgmt -Security/Compliance.
Qualifications
Must-have
- Proven experience taking a company from “uncertified” to ISO 9001 certified (end-to-end: system build, implementation, internal audits, external certification).
- 7+ years in Quality / QMS leadership in a regulated environment (nuclear, aerospace, defence, medical devices, pharma, or equivalent).
- Strong working knowledge of QMS building blocks: document/records control, process mapping, internal audits, supplier quality, CAPA, training/competency, risk-based thinking.
- Demonstrated ability to write clear procedures and implement them in real teams (not just author documents).
Excellent stakeholder management: able to influence engineers, operators, and executives; pragmatic and action-oriented.
Nice to have
- Familiarity with nuclear quality frameworks (CSA N286/N299, NQA-1, 10 CFR 50 App B concepts) and how nuclear organizations structure oversight programs.
- Experience building supplier qualification and surveillance programs.
- Experience implementing or modernizing an IMS/QMS platform with training + change management.
- Experience with Controlled Goods Program / security posture work (policy, training, access control, audits).
- Lead auditor credentials (ISO 9001 and/or nuclear/aerospace equivalents).
Why Join CSMC
CSMC is building technologies that will shape Canada’s future in energy, space, and national security. You’ll join a team of engineers, scientists, and mission‑driven builders who care deeply about solving hard problems that matter. We move quickly, support each other, and take pride in doing work that has real impact. Along the way, you’ll have access to competitive compensation, benefits, and equity, and the chance to grow with a company that values ownership, curiosity, and technical excellence.
Employment Eligibility
CSMC works with highly sensitive nuclear, defence, and aerospace technologies, and all roles require eligibility for federal security screening and compliance with controlled goods and export regulations. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, able to obtain and maintain Government of Canada security clearance, and eligible to meet foreign affiliation and export control requirements. These conditions are mandatory Bona Fide Occupational Requirements and reflect the need to securely develop and protect nationally significant capabilities.
