AUKUS QA Technical Support Team Lead (Mgr Project Management 3)

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.; Canberra; On-site; AUD 136,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) invites a Senior Technical Lead to establish and lead supplier quality assurance for Australia-based engagements in the US nuclear submarine supply chain. You will guide validation for onboarding, perform audits, and drive corrective actions with a focus on meeting rigorous supplier standards.

The role reports to the Senior Project Manager and requires strong communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration across teams and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in QA/Quality Control in defence or high-risk industry.
• Experience auditing quality management systems (ISO 9001 or MILSPECs).
• Experience with naval nuclear requirements is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish supplier assurance function and ensure validation assessments meet onboarding requirements.
• Lead supplier quality assessment process from down-selection to CAP closure.
• Perform supplier on-site audits and post-assessment reporting with gap analyses.

Skills

Quality assurance

Auditing

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Foreign travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Job description

Requisition Number: 28926

Required Travel: 11 - 25%

Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Anticipated Salary Range: $136,045.00 - $200,000.00

Security Clearance: Ability to Obtain

Level of Experience: Senior

This opportunity resides with Global Security (GS). Mission Technologies’ Global Security (GS) group comprises live, virtual, constructive (LVC) solutions; fleet sustainment; nuclear and environmental; and Australia business.

As a trusted partner to our military customers, HII designs, develops and operates the largest LVC enterprise that prepares warfighters for cross-domain battle. With advanced technologies to enable mission readiness, HII understands that preparation requires full coordination—not readiness in piece-parts.

For more than 40 years, the U.S. Navy has entrusted HII to maintain and modernize the vast majority of its fleet. With a holistic approach to life-cycle maritime defense systems—from small watercraft to submarines, surface combatants and aircraft carriers—HII ensures a high state of readiness.

HII supports the Department of Energy’s national security mission through the management and operation of its sites, as well as the safe cleanup of legacy waste across the country. HII meets clients’ toughest nuclear and environmental challenges.

Leadership at HII – Mission Technologies

HII’s Leadership Capability Framework outlines the core capabilities expected of all leaders across Mission Technologies. Leaders are accountable for demonstrating strength in:

• Know & Grow Your People – Develop talent, empower teams, and build an inclusive environment.
• Build Relationships – Strengthen trust, collaboration, and cross-functional partnerships.
• Take Ownership – Drive accountability, execution excellence, and results.
• Customer First – Anticipate mission needs and deliver value to our partners.
• Shape the Future – Inspire innovation and align work with strategic priorities.
• Act with Urgency – Make informed decisions and move with purpose.

These capabilities define how leaders inspire teams, deliver results, and shape the future of Mission Technologies.

Summary

HII is seeking a Technical Support Team Lead to join our team in Australia! The purpose of this role is to lead a team of engineering and supplier quality professionals conducting Supplier Validation assessments. These assessments will guide potential Suppliers through each step of an established process for identification, qualification and entry of Australia suppliers into the US nuclear-powered submarine supply chain.

This role will report to the Senior Project Manager and support all necessary activities, responsibilities and reporting to ensure contract deliverables are met and key stakeholders are informed appropriately.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish the technical (supplier assurance) function for the US Services, ensuring Validation assessments adhere to the process and onboarding requirements.
• Key liaison to the existing team structure on how to integrate the Newport News Shipyard (NNS) and requirements into the validation process.
• Manage the Supplier Assessment Process from down-selection to close out of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs).
• Plan for and perform assessments of potential NNS suppliers per established checklists to ensure supplier personnel, facilities, and written programs meet NNS supply chain standards.
• Conduct field visits to interview supplier employees, review documents and observe operations.
• Write a post assessment report identifying performance to the checklist, including a gap analysis of business capabilities versus US supply chain requirements.
• Support reporting, monitoring and EVMS metrics.
• Participation in trade shows, conferences and industry events.
• Support proposal development for additional services.
• Facilitate completion of corrective actions by the supplier through training, liaison and feedback on planned and completed actions.
• Facilitate technical data exchange between NNS, and the supplier. Provide coaching through the qualification process.
• Liaise with NNS and US Subject Matter Experts to identify potential products and services.
• As an on-site technical representative, perform periodic post-award audits of suppliers to ensure performance requirements are being met.
• Assessment of suppliers for Business Maturity.
• Identify weakness in suppliers and help develop and validate corrective actions.
• Conduct and support investigations for non-conforming services and products, as assigned.
• Participate in improvement activities where assessments have identified opportunities for improvement.
• Implement quality assurance training within the Program as required.
• Maintain up to date records and documentary evidence of assessment/audit and findings such that these can be retrieved at any time.
• Lead, mentor, coach, and guide supplier quality assurance practitioners.
• Execute best practise supplier due diligence auditing framework.
• Ensure that standardised supplier due diligence is applied.
• Development of checklists, process and procedures that relate to validation and qualification activities.
• Develop and document a supplier technical assessment and validation process that can be applied for a trilateral nuclear industrial base.
• Other reasonable duties commensurate with classification level.
• Travel will be required – domestic and overseas.

What you need to have

• 8 years relevant progressive experience with Bachelors in related field; 6 years relevant progressive experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 12 years relevant progressive experience.
• Extensive experience in a quality assurance or quality control role at management or advisor level in a similar Defence, Nuclear or high risk industry.
• Extensive experience working in or auditing quality management systems in accordance with the AS/NZS ISO 9001 series or applicable US MILSPECs and Standards.
• Experience working in, developing and implementing or improving quality assurance programs.
• Experience with US or UK Naval nuclear requirements.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with employees and suppliers at all levels of the business. Experience in building and leading teams.
• Ability to work in a ‘start-up’ environment – and so shaping and leading ‘best practice’
• Experience participating in or Leading investigations/ root cause analysis.
• Development and monitoring of meaningful leading and lagging performance indicators.
• Knowledge of other business management system standards such as ISO 14001 Environmental Management, and AS/NZS 31000:2018 Risk Management.
• Collate, analyse and present data and performance indicators.
• Ability to comfortably work across a multi-disciplined environment.
• A sound knowledge of Business Management System and/or BMS auditing techniques.
• Computing skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Experience with multiple standards and requirements such as ISO 9001 & ISO 45001:2018 Safety Management.
• Must either hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance.

Bonus points for

• Experience from working in/with or for Defence, or as a Defence Industry Partner.
• Experience working with HII or other procurement functions.
• Experience of procurement/subcontractor process and onboarding requirements.
• Qualification or experience with Safety or Environmental Management.
• Technical familiarity with castings, forgings, welding, machining, advanced manufacturing, and other fabrication processes and products desirable.
• Technical expertise in calibration, NDT, scaffolding, marine exposure or similar disciplines offered to submarines during maintenance availability.
• Competent in the development and delivery of training and assessment.
• Leadership, mentoring and coaching skills.
• ASQ – Certified Quality Auditor (certification).

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.

Meet HII’s Mission Technologies Division

Our team of more than 7,000 professionals worldwide delivers all-domain expertise and advanced technologies in service of mission partners across the globe. Mission Technologies is leading the next evolution of national defense – the data evolution - by accelerating a breadth of national security solutions for government and commercial customers. Our capabilities range from C5ISR, AI and Big Data, cyber operations and synthetic training environments to fleet sustainment, environmental remediation and the largest family of unmanned underwater vehicles in every class. Find the role that’s right for you. Apply today. We look forward to meeting you.

To learn more about Mission Technologies, click here for a short video: https://vimeo.com/732533072

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.

Why HII

We build the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.

Recognized as one of America’s top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people’s safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.

Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Do You Need Assistance

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. Additionally, you may also call 1-844-849-8463 for assistance. Press #3 for HII Mission Technologies.