Software Quality Assurance Manager 2

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (DS) is seeking aSoftware Quality Assurance Manager 2to join our Advanced Weapons Business Unit at the Northridge, CA location. Our Advanced Weapons team designs, develops, and manufactures missile systems that support U.S. national and allied security objectives. This position is required to be full-time, on-site in the Northridge, CA location. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoW Secret clearance. The Software Quality Assurance Manager leads the planning, execution, and continual improvement of all software quality activities for defensegrade systems. The role ensures that software products meet stringent DoD specifications, safety, reliability, and security standards throughout the development lifecycle. The manager mentors a multidisciplinary SQA team, collaborates with engineering, test, and program management, and serves as the primary liaison with certification bodies and government auditors. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Quality Strategy & Planning - Define and maintain the SQA strategy aligned with DoD standards (e.g., MILSTD498, MILSTD2167A, DODAF, DICOT, DoDCybersecurity Maturity Model Certification CMMC). Develop and enforce a comprehensive Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) for each program, including verification & validation (V&V) schedules, metrics, and risk mitigation actions. Process & Compliance - Oversee implementation of software development processes (Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall) that satisfy Earned Value Management (EVM), Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) Level 3, and Software Configuration Management (SCM) requirements. Conduct internal audits, prepare for external CDRL reviews, and ensure compliance with ISO9001, IEC61508, CMMI, and applicable defense acquisition regulations. Test Management - Direct functional, integration, system, and acceptance testing on simulators, hardwareintheloop (HITL) rigs, and field environments. Manage automated test frameworks, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and static/dynamic analysis tools (e.g., DO78C, MISRAC, Coverity, SonarQube). Defect Management - Establish defect tracking policies, prioritize rootcause analysis, and coordinate corrective actions across development teams. Monitor defect density, mean time to detect/resolve, and trend data to drive process improvements. Team Leadership - Recruit, train, and mentor SQA engineers, test pilots, and subjectmatter experts. Conduct performance reviews, define career development paths, and foster a culture of quality and security awareness. Stakeholder Coordination - Interface with program managers, system engineers, customers, and government auditors to communicate quality status, risks, and mitigation plans. Prepare and present quality reports, dashboards, and risk assessments to senior leadership and contract officers. Continuous Improvement - Lead lessonslearned sessions, implement Kaizen/Lean initiatives, and update process documentation to reflect evolving defense standards and emerging cyber threats BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of software development experience in the defense sector OR Masters degree with 6+ years of the same experience. 12 years of experience required in lieu of a formal degree 3+ years of experience in a supervisory or lead SQA role Proven expertise with defense standards such as MILSTD498, DO78C, CMMC, ISO9001, IEC61508, and related acquisition regulations. Handson experience with test automation and CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI), defecttracking systems (JIRA, DOORS), static analysis tools (Coverity, Polyspace), and simulation environments. Demonstrated success leading internal and external audits, CDRL reviews, and compliance assessments. Strong peoplemanagement skills, with the ability to motivate crossfunctional teams under tight schedules. Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoD Secret clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Certified Quality Engineer (ASQ CQE) or Certified Software Quality Engineer (ASQ CSQE). Experience with safetycritical systems (e.g. missile guidance, commandandcontrol). Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NIST80053, RMF, DoDCybersecurity Strategy). Exposure to AgileScaled frameworks (SAFe) applied to defense contracts. Exposure to working with DCMA, NAVAIR, and TPO. #LI-MA1 #NorthridgeOct26 Primary Level Salary Range: $146,600.00 - $219,800.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidates experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.