Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (DS) is seeking a Software Quality Assurance Manager 2 to 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 defense‑grade 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., MIL‑STD‑498, MIL‑STD‑2167A, DODAF, DI‑COT, DoD Cybersecurity 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 ISOa09001, IECa061508, CMMI, and applicable defense acquisition regulations.

Test Management -

• Direct functional, integration, system, and acceptance testing on simulators, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HITL) rigs, and field environments.
• Manage automated test frameworks, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and static/dynamic analysis tools (e.g., DO‑178C, MISRA‑C, Coverity, SonarQube).

Defect Management -

• Establish defect tracking policies, prioritize root‑cause 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 subject‑matter 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 lessons‑learned sessions, implement Kaizen/Lean initiatives, and update process documentation to reflect evolving defense standards and emerging cyber threats

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelore28099s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of software development experience in the defense sector OR Mastere28099s 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 MIL‑STD‑498, DO‑178C, CMMC, ISOa09001, IECa061508, and related acquisition regulations.
• Hands‑on experience with test automation and CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI), defect‑tracking systems (JIRA, DOORS), static analysis tools (Coverity, Polyspace), and simulation environments.
• Demonstrated success leading internal and external audits, CDRL reviews, and compliance assessments.
• Strong people‑management skills, with the ability to motivate cross‑functional 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 safety‑critical systems (e.g. missile guidance, command‑and‑control).
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (NISTa0800‑53, RMF, DoDa0Cybersecurity Strategy).
• Exposure to Agile‑Scaled frameworks (SAFe) applied to defense contracts.
• Exposure to working with DCMA, NAVAIR, and TPO.

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