About the role
DroneShield is seeking a Head of Quality & HSE with relevant experience to join the team in Sydney, NSW.
The position will report to the Chief Operating Officer.
The Head of Quality & HSE is accountable for building a function that protects the business while enabling fast, reliable and secure operations.
The HoQ&HSE; is responsible for preventing defects, eliminated safety risks, accelerating issue resolution and establishing a robust, auditable compliance backbone without slowing operational speed.
Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations
Operational Enablement
Embed quality, safety, and compliance into operational and engineering workflows by design.
Enable execution speed through clear standards, decision rights, and risk‐based controls.
Defect & Risk Prevention
Drive prevention‐first approaches across design, manufacturing, supply chain, and field operations.
Eliminate safety hazards and systemic defect drivers through structured risk management.
Incident & Fault Resolution
Lead fault‐finding, investigation, and root‐cause analysis for production and field incidents.
Ensure rapid containment, effective corrective action, and prevention of recurrence.
Balance operational continuity with regulatory and customer obligations.
Compliance & Governance
Establish and maintain a scalable, auditable quality and HSE compliance framework.
Lead regulatory engagement, certifications, and internal/external audits.
Ensure compliance strengthens execution rather than adding friction.
Continuous Improvement
Own and lead the enterprise continuous improvement system for the business.




Convert incidents, defects, audit findings, and field feedback into sustained systemic improvement.
Drive cross‐functional improvement initiatives aligned to risk and operational impact.
Measurement & KPIs
Define, track, and report meaningful Quality, Safety, and Compliance KPIs.
Use leading and lagging indicators to drive decision‐making and prioritisation.
Ensure performance trends are visible, consistent, and trusted by leadership.
Leadership
Build and lead high‐performing global Quality & HSE teams.
Act as a trusted partner to Operations, Engineering, Programs, and Supply Chain.
Provide clear, objective risk and assurance insight to the executive team.
Measures of Success
Fewer defects, escapes, and repeat incidents.
Zero responsible safety incidents and reduced risk exposure.
Proactive risk identification.
Faster issue resolution with minimal delivery disruption.
Strong audit outcomes and regulatory confidence.
Quality & HSE recognised as an enabler of speed, scale, and reliability.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills
Senior leadership experience in Quality, HSE, or Operational Risk.
Background in defence, aerospace, or highly regulated high‐tech manufacturing.
Proven experience operating in global, multi‐site environments.
Engineering or technical qualifications preferred.
Quality/Safety credentials desirable.
Customer-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Relevant tertiary qualification in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business (desirable).
)
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Head Of Quality & Hse (Au) (New South Wales)
🏢 Droneshield
📍 New South Wales