Mission and Quality Assurance Lead

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Central Region Mission and Quality Assurance Analyst.  This role will be directly aligned to the Risk and Opportunity Management Plan and Mission Assurance/Quality Assurance requirements.

The selected candidate will lead quality and mission assurance activities across the software- and hardware-intensive ground segment, integrating risk and opportunity management with the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure first-time quality and mission success.

If this job description reads like it was written specifically for you, consider joining our team!

• →Execute Mission Assurance/Quality Assurance (MAQA) responsibilities in alignment with the organizational Quality Management System (QMS), including compliance to AS9100 Rev D, applicable Northrop Grumman procedures (PrOPs), and customer requirements.
• →Implement and maintain an internal program audit plan aligned with the organizational risk-based audit (RBA) plan, performing targeted audits of software, hardware, and system processes to evaluate effectiveness of the QMS and verify compliance with AS9100, Northrop Grumman procedures (PrOPs), and program-specific requirements.
• →Drive Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) activities:
  • →Lead or guide RCCA for nonconformances, quality escapes, and audit findings.
  • →Define and implement corrective actions, validate effectiveness, and ensure closure is documented in the RCCA tracking tool.
• →Participate in and support the Preventive Corrective Action Board (PCAB), Failure Review Boards (FRB), and related mission assurance boards to address systemic issues and drive continuous improvement.
• →Manage nonconformances (DRs) and escapes in accordance with the nonconformance tracking processes, ensuring documentation, disposition, and verification of corrective actions.
• →Support development and reporting of quality metrics and use metrics to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• →Ensure quality goals and objectives are translated into actionable plans for software, hardware, systems, supplier, and program-level mission assurance.
• →Program MA: Review and approve SDRLs, quality metrics, and statements of work (SOW) compliance from a mission assurance/quality perspective; support audits and risk/opportunity management from a program quality standpoint.
• →Systems MA: Collaborate with systems engineering to plan, witness, and approve subsystem and system-level verification, validation, and sell-off activities, ensuring requirements are met and acceptance criteria are satisfied.
• →Hardware MA: Support and perform hardware inspections (including PCAs and other configuration/acceptance inspections) on end-item deliverables and test lab configurations; verify hardware readiness for test, integration, and delivery.
• →Supplier MA: Coordinate with Supplier Mission Assurance (SMA) and supply chain to evaluate and monitor suppliers, ensuring quality requirements are flowed down, verified, and maintained through audits, inspections, and performance metrics.
• →Software MA: Support mission assurance of software capabilities primarily through planning, witnessing, and reviewing system and subsystem-level testing of software-enabled functions, rather than direct development, while leveraging software engineering knowledge to understand risks and issues.

• Implement and sustain the Risk and Opportunity Management Plan (ROMP) and associated Risk and Opportunity Management (RSKOM) process for software, hardware, system, and program mission assurance activities.
• Act as a key contributor to the Risk and Opportunity Management Board (ROMB):
  • Identify, assess, and document software, hardware, and system risks/opportunities in the program’s risk, issue, and opportunity tracking tool.
  • Define and execute handling strategies (avoid/mitigate/transfer/accept/monitor for risks; capture/pursue/transfer/monitor/accept for opportunities).
• Apply program-specific risk scales (probability and impact in cost, schedule, and technical performance) and use the program’s 5x5 risk/opportunity matrix to prioritize actions.
• Ensure realized risks are appropriately transitioned into corrective and preventive actions and feed Schedule Risk Analysis (SRA) and Earned Value Management (EVM) estimates (Best/Most Likely/Worst case).

• Collaborate with program management, MAQA, and functional leadership to align quality initiatives with program objectives and to embed risk/opportunity and quality thinking throughout the program.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to less-experienced Mission Assurance and Quality team members; support cross-training activities within the department.
• Serve as a liaison between engineering teams, program management, customers, suppliers, and the prime contractor for quality, mission assurance, and risk/opportunity-related matters.
• Foster a safety-first, quality-driven culture that emphasizes proactive risk identification, disciplined configuration control, and continuous improvement in support of Northrop Grumman’s organizational values.
• Perform other mission assurance and quality-related duties as assigned in support of program and department objectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or other related field with 5 years of relevant software development/integration and mission assurance/quality experience – OR – Master’s degree in a related field with 3 years of experience – OR – PhD in a related field with 1 year of experience. Will consider an additional 4+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance at time of application, with ability to obtain/maintain required program access.
• Experience in mission assurance, quality engineering, or software/hardware development/test environments within aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries, preferably aligned to structured RSKOM and QMS frameworks.
• Demonstrated knowledge of software development processes, including Agile and familiarity with traditional models (e.g., Waterfall, Spiral).
• Demonstrated knowledge of one or more programming languages such as C, C++, Java, and Python sufficient to understand code structure and participate in technical discussions and code reviews as needed.
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions (RCCA), and risk management, including use of probability/impact scales or similar frameworks.
• Familiarity with quality standards and regulations (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001, CMMI) and their application to software- and hardware-intensive systems.
• Demonstrated experience in process and product evaluation, including process monitoring, data collection, analysis, and metric reporting for software, hardware, and system quality.

• Direct experience implementing a Risk and Opportunity Management Plan on a complex aerospace or defense program, including participation in or leadership of ROMB-style boards.
• Prior engagement in customer or supplier interface roles regarding quality, mission assurance, or risk/opportunity management.
• Experience in a Software Engineering environment in an engineering capacity, including work plan review, manufacturing readiness review, FRB participation, and RCCA leadership.
• Familiarity with TRIO or similar risk/issue/opportunity tools, as well as the Atlassian tool suite, Git, and Confluence.
• Exposure to advanced quality tools and methodologies, including Six Sigma/Lean; professional quality certifications such as ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green Belt, or Black Belt are a plus.
• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance