The posting
Leidos’ Undersea Systems Division is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager in San Diego, CA to join a fast-paced Research & Development (R&D) engineering group supporting innovative underwater vehicle systems, maritime sensors, subsea telemetry, and ISR solutions at Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific (NIWC PAC).
This is not a traditional quality management role. We are looking for a hands-on quality leader and process architect who thrives on building structure where processes are still evolving or have yet to be established. Rather than simply maintaining an existing quality framework, this individual will take ownership of creating, developing, documenting, implementing, and continuously improving quality management processes and systems.
We're looking for a builder, not just an overseer. Someone who brings the experience, initiative, and technical judgment to transform emerging processes into a scalable quality framework while balancing mission requirements, compliance, and aggressive project timelines.
Work Schedule: This position requires onsite work at NIWC Pacific on a 9/80B schedule (80 hours worked over nine days within a two-week period, allowing for every other Friday off) to align with the NIWC government team.
What You'll Work On:
- Build and Establish Quality Processes: Create, develop and implement quality management processes, procedures, and controls in an evolving R&D environment where established frameworks may be limited or nonexistent.
- Author Technical Documentation: Independently create/develop, document, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), Test Plans, Acceptance Criteria Matrices, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEAs), and other essential quality documentation.
- Evaluate and Formalize Existing Practices: Assess current engineering, testing, assembly, and integration workflows to identify process gaps, formalize existing practices, and establish consistent, repeatable procedures.
- Bridge R&D to Production: Design and implement scalable quality checkpoints and control gates that support the transition from exploratory R&D prototypes to disciplined, repeatable low volume manufacturing.
- Drive Process Improvement: Apply Lean/Six Sigma methodologies and root cause analysis techniques to improve operational efficiency, reduce quality risks, and strengthen process reliability without compromising military specifications.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Compliance Oversight: Establish and oversee quality controls that ensure project activities, from initial design reviews through final deployment, adhere to applicable Navy/DoD standards, internal guidelines, and industry best practices.
- Technical Quality Assessment: Create, develop and oversee quality assurance processes for two integrated system areas: vehicle systems and sensor payloads.
- Auditing & Corrective Actions: Establish and conduct systematic internal audits of processes and finished systems. Develop and maintain traceable documentation of quality deviations, corrective actions, and preventive measures to support continuous improvement and compliance.
Leadership, Training & Risk Management
- Quality Training & Mentorship: Develop and lead training initiatives to ensure technical personnel understand and consistently apply newly established QA/QC procedures, documentation standards, and compliance requirements.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with production leads, engineers, and technical subject matter experts to establish practical, effective quality processes that balance rapid R&D progress with disciplined production requirements.
- Risk Identification & Mitigation: Proactively identify technical, procedural, and operational risks, including single points of failure (SPOFs), and implement systemic controls to prevent quality issues from impacting mission readiness or project schedules.
- Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement: Take a proactive, hands-on approach to resolving complex quality challenges, implementing sustainable improvements, and adapting processes as program requirements evolve.
What You'll Bring:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field with a minimum of 8+ years of experience in Quality Assurance/Quality Control management within the defense, government contracting, or specialized high-tech manufacturing sectors.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and possess an active Secret security clearance and be able to maintain it.
- Demonstrated experience establishing, developing, or significantly improving Quality Management Systems (QMS) and procedural frameworks in environments where formalized processes were limited, immature, or nonexistent.
- Proven hands-on experience independently and collaboratively authoring, implementing, and standardizing SOPs, work instructions, quality plans, and process controls, rather than solely maintaining or auditing established procedures.
- Direct experience supporting integrated systems projects involving advanced R&D prototypes and production-scale hardware units.
- Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems (QMS), including practical implementation of ISO 9001/AS9100 principles within R&D and low-rate production environments.
- Expert knowledge of structured engineering methodologies, including V-Model, Agile, and MIL-STD lifecycle processes.
- Demonstrated familiarity with advanced electronics, mechanical assemblies, and mission critical hardware integration.
- Proficiency in developing technical documentation, including procedure manuals, schematic overlays, and traceability matrices. Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, actionable, and repeatable processes.
- Experience managing fast-paced projects with aggressive timelines, shifting priorities, and evolving or undefined procedures.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop technical
- documentation and effectively communicate quality risks and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to identify systemic quality issues, implement corrective actions, and drive sustainable improvements across multidisciplinary teams.
- Sound technical judgment and adaptability when applying quality standards in dynamic R&D environments, balancing compliance, risk mitigation, and mission requirements.
- Strong understanding of end-to-end engineering and production workflows, with the ability to identify inefficiencies and improve processes beyond final product inspection.
- Exceptional attention to detail, resourcefulness, and the ability to maintain quality standards while navigating changing project demands.
- Must be able to work onsite at NIWC Pacific on a 9/80B schedule.
Even Better If You Have:
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
SUBSEAMSS
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
November 6, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
