Head of Quality (AI Hardware)

Location: Based in the UK, with locations in London and Bristol

Company

hirify.global is a UK-based AI hardware startup developing chips and systems designed to generate AI outputs at thousands of tokens per second and support large models with long contexts.

What you will do

• Define and deliver the company quality strategy, policy, objectives, and performance reporting in alignment with the product roadmap and growth plan.
• Build, lead, and develop a quality team covering supplier, product, reliability, software, and systems quality.
• Establish scalable document control, change control, CAPA, internal audit, training, records, and quality-management processes.
• Embed quality gates into NPI and product lifecycle processes, from concept through end of life.
• Own quality across the outsourced supply chain, including foundries, assembly and packaging, test houses, PCB/PCBA, and system-level contract manufacturers.
• Lead supplier qualification, audits, performance management, customer quality escalations, RMA and complaint handling, root-cause analysis, and 8D responses.

Requirements

• Significant quality experience in semiconductors or electronics hardware, including creating and leading a quality function or team.
• Direct experience managing quality through outsourced manufacturing, including foundries, OSATs, test houses, and/or contract manufacturers.
• Deep knowledge of ISO 9001 and hands-on experience building or running a certified QMS.
• Working knowledge of semiconductor qualification and reliability, including JEDEC, failure analysis, data-centre RAS assessments, and HPC system qualification and certification.
• Fluency in 8D, FMEA, control plans, SPC, MSA, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience handling quality escalations with large, demanding customers.
• Degree in electrical or electronic engineering, materials science, physics, or a related discipline.
• Clear, confident communication skills with the ability to influence engineers, suppliers, executives, and external partners.
• Willingness to travel internationally, including to Asia and the US, for supplier audits and customer quality reviews.

Nice to have

• Experience in a fabless company, particularly one bringing an initial product to volume.
• Background in high-performance compute, data centres, networking, or AI hardware.
• Exposure to software quality, release management, or secure development practices.
• Lead Auditor certification for ISO 9001, Six Sigma Black Belt, or chartered status such as CQI or IET.
• Experience working with suppliers in Taiwan, South Korea, or the US.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary reflecting experience and the specialist nature of the role.
• Meaningful equity and ownership participation.
• Private medical, dental and vision coverage, contributory pension, 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, and life/critical illness insurance.
• Diverse and inclusive office environment with a commitment to equal employment opportunity.
• Work may involve technologies subject to UK, US, and other international export-control regulations, with additional eligibility checks potentially required.