Requisition Number: 30929
Required Travel: 0 - 10%
Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt
Anticipated Salary Range: $103,940.00 - $148,485.00
Security Clearance: Ability to Obtain
Level of Experience: Mid
This opportunity resides with
Uncrewed Systems (UxS), a business group within HII's Mission Technologies division. Uncrewed Systems comprises unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomy software.
HII Unmanned Systems (UxS) is seeking an experienced and forward-leaning Software Quality Engineer (SQE) to join our growing team.This role supports the design, fabrication, testing, and sustainment of unmanned systems - including Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), and all associated payloads and supporting equipment. The SQE will be instrumental in establishing and maturing our Software Quality Assurance (SQA) processes across the UxS business, ensuring that internally developed software, autonomy frameworks, and supplier-delivered software/firmware meet the highest standards of reliability, safety, and mission readiness.
As our new Software Quality Engineer, you will:• Oversee all aspects of the Software Quality Management System as it applies to UUV and USV programs, including software planning, controls, metrics, and compliance.
• Establish, document, and champion software quality assurance processes across the business, supporting the creation of an SQA branch within UxS.
• Collaborate with engineering teams (software, systems, autonomy, and hardware) to ensure software quality requirements are incorporated early in system and product lifecycles.
• Work with Subcontract Management to define, negotiate, and verify software/firmware quality requirements within supplier Statements of Work (SOWs) and technical specifications.
• Conduct software-focused supplier audits, including process maturity assessments, configuration management evaluations, cybersecurity posture checks, and verification of software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices.
• Travel to supplier and partner locations as needed to clarify software quality requirements, evaluate technical capability, assess risk, and resolve software-related performance issues.
• Support internal teams through software process audits, readiness reviews, code quality spot assessments, and independent test witnessing when required.
• Monitor and drive continuous improvement in key software quality metrics, such as defect density, test coverage, requirements traceability completeness, and supplier software delivery performance.
• Collaborate with HII mission partners and strategic external partners to establish a robust, consistent software quality framework applicable across all UxS programs.
• Maintain and update the software supplier audit schedule and associated tracking systems.
• Lead or support root cause analysis related to software defects, integration failures, configuration mismatches, and regression issues, ensuring corrective actions prevent recurrence.
• Provide guidance to engineering teams and suppliers on secure coding expectations, software configuration management best practices, and documentation quality.
• Support software verification and validation strategies, including test plan development, test witnessing, and assessment of autonomy behaviors and mission-critical software.
• Help define long-term software quality goals for the UxS business, aligning with organizational strategic objectives and industry best practices.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable standards, policies, regulations, IEEE software standards, cyber compliance requirements, and internal HII processes.
• Initiate action to prevent the occurrence of non-conformities related to software, firmware, configuration management, and software quality systems.
• Identify, record, and communicate software-related issues, and actively participate in developing, recommending, and implementing solutions.
What you will be doing...Develops, modifies, applies, and maintains standards for software systems quality operating methods, processes, and procedures. Conducts evaluation of software systems activities including requirements, design, development, documentation, integration, test, verification and validation. Defines appropriate measures to ensure product quality. Develops overall operating criteria to ensure implementation of the software quality program according to project, process and contract requirements and objectives. Ensures that projects and process control documentation are compliant with requirements, objectives and/or contracts. Reviews software systems design, change specifications, and plans against contractual and/or process requirements. Reviews include applicable specifications, materials, tools, techniques, and methodologies. Provides or directs verification and validation of software system requirements, traceability, and testability.
What we are looking for.- 9 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 4 years relevant experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 13 years relevant experience.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a government clearance #LI-MH1
Bonus Points for.- Understanding of project management and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) requirements
- Understanding of IEEE 730 Software Quality Assurance Plans requirements
- Understanding of autonomy, embedded systems, or real-time software architectures used in unmanned/autonomous systems.
- Experience with software development lifecycle (SDLC) models used in defense/aerospace programs
- Experience collaborating with subcontractors or external partners on software delivery, quality gate criteria, and acceptance processes
Physical RequirementsMay require working in an office, industrial, shipboard, or laboratory environment. Capable of climbing ladders and tolerating confined spaces and extreme temperature variances.
The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.
To learn more about Mission Technologies, click here for a short video: https://vimeo.com/[redacted]
HII is more than a job - it's an opportunity to build a new future. We offer competitive benefits such as best-in-class medical, dental and vision plan choices; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; Savings Plan Options (401(k)); financial planning tools, life insurance; employee discounts; paid holidays and paid time off; tuition reimbursement; as well as early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships. Bonus/other non-recurrent compensation is occasionally offered for qualified positions, and if applicable to this role will be addressed by the recruiter at the screening phase of application.
