QA Program Lead

Alva Energy, Inc; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Alva Energy, Inc. is seeking a Quality Assurance Program Lead in Boston (Hybrid) with travel to project or vendor sites as required.

You will drive the day-to-day execution of the quality program behind nuclear uprate projects, drafting procedures, qualifying suppliers, and maintaining records for turnover. This hands-on role requires coordinating across engineering, procurement, and project management, leading audits, and ensuring ISO 9001 and NQA-1 compliance while reporting program health to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, or related technical discipline.
• 5–8 years of nuclear QA experience with applicable standards (NQA-1, ISO 9001).
• Proven ability to write procedures and manage supplier audits.
• Experience with corrective actions, nonconformance, and 10 CFR Part 21.
• Knowledge of QA records, document control, and regulatory interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Direct quality consultant and hold suppliers/contractors to Alva standards.
• Develop QA Manual and procedures aligned with NQA-1 and ISO 9001.
• Lead transition from consultant to Alva with knowledge transfer.
• Maintain ISO 9001 compliance and quality objectives ongoing.
• Train staff and advise teams on embedding quality in processes.
• Conduct internal and supplier audits; manage Approved Supplier List.
• Own nonconformance, corrective actions and 10 CFR Part 21 processes.
• Serve as QA contact for utility/supplier QA orgs; report health to leadership.
• Catch and mitigate quality issues early in design and procurement.

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

NQA-1 Lead Auditor qualification

ASQ CQA or CQE certification

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification

Quality management system implementation

Regulatory compliance mindset

Job description

Quality Assurance Program Lead

Title: Quality Assurance Program Lead

Location: Boston (Hybrid) with travel to project or vendor sites as required

Help build the quality program that lets utilities and regulators trust every component behind 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity

We are seeking a Quality Assurance Program Lead to drive day-to-day execution of the quality program behind Alva's power uprate programs. As our first dedicated quality hire, you'll work alongside our quality consultant to stand up an integrated quality program that meets NQA-1 and achieves ISO 9001 compliance, then keep the program running day to day across safety-related work on a first-of-a-kind commercial energy project integrating a novel secondary turbine-generator plant.

In this role, you'll be Alva's in-house expert on quality standards, and the person utilities, suppliers, and NRC inspectors rely on for evidence that safety-related work was done right. This is a hands-on role: you'll draft procedures, qualify suppliers, perform audits, drive corrective actions to closure, and assemble the quality records package at turnover.

What Will You Do

Core Responsibilities

• Direct our quality consultant and hold suppliers and contractors to Alva's requirements, driving the stand-up plan to schedule across Engineering, Procurement, and Project Management
• Develop the QA Program Manual and user-focused procedures aligned with NQA-1, Appendix B, and ISO 9001
• Lead the transition from the consultant to Alva through NQA-1 implementation, client acceptance, and knowledge transfer
• Keep procedures current and maintain ISO 9001 compliance, including quality objectives and management reviews, as Alva's scope evolves
• Serve as Alva's in-house expert on quality standards, training staff and advising teams on building quality into their processes
• Conduct or support internal and supplier audits, and maintain the Approved Supplier List
• Own the nonconformance, corrective action, commercial-grade dedication, and 10 CFR Part 21 processes from initiation through closure
• Serve as the quality point of contact for utility and supplier QA organizations, lead client audits and NRC inspections, and report program health to leadership
• Catch quality problems early in design and procurement, before they turn into rework or schedule delays

How to Succeed in This Role

Key Competencies

Taking Ownership: Manage your workload effectively and demonstrate accountability for outcomes, not just task completion.

Stakeholder Management: Engage clearly with internal partners like Engineering, Project Management, and Procurement, and with external partners, including our quality consultant and utility QA organizations. Provide concise, well-timed updates, and hold the line on quality requirements under schedule pressure.

Critical Thinking: Analyze discrepancies and quality issues independently and propose solutions rather than just flagging problems

Building Quality In: Partner with teams so quality is designed into how work gets done, not inspected in afterward. Explain the why behind requirements so people follow them by choice, not just compliance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, or a related technical discipline
• 5-8 years of quality assurance experience in the nuclear industry
• Hands-on experience writing procedures for and maintaining a 10 CFR 50 Appendix B / ASME NQA-1 quality program
• Experience leading or participating in internal or supplier audits, with a working knowledge of NQA-1 audit requirements
• Experience coordinating work across consultants, contractors, and internal teams against a defined scope and schedule
• Experience with commercial-grade dedication and 10 CFR Part 21 evaluations
• Demonstrated experience implementing, maintaining, and improving an ISO 9001-compliant quality management system

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or standing up a quality program at a new or growing organization
• Experience on the supplier or EPC side of the nuclear supply chain
• Participation in NUPIC joint supplier audits
• NQA-1 Lead Auditor qualification (current or previous)
• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification (e.g., Exemplar Global or CQI/IRCA)
• Familiarity with ISO 45001 and experience supporting an integrated quality and occupational health and safety management system
• Familiarity with I&C, turbine-generator, or balance-of-plant equipment and power uprate modifications
• Experience with electronic QA records and document control systems
• Experience supporting first-of-a-kind, demonstration, or complex infrastructure projects

Reporting & Team Structure

• Reports to: VP of Operations, with direct access to the CEO on quality matters
• Collaborates closely with: Engineering (Safety Analysis and I&C), Project Management, Procurement, Licensing, and utility and supplier QA organizations

Why Join Alva

• Opportunity to help deliver a historic first-of-a-kind nuclear uprate project
• A hands-on, central role in the quality program behind safety-related work critical to plant performance and operation
• Ability to shape Alva's quality program and standards from the ground up as our first dedicated quality hire
• Work at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and nuclear regulation
• Join a fast-growing, engineering-led company focused on expanding carbon-free energy generation in the United States
• High-impact role with significant visibility and ownership across the organization

Who We Are

Alva Energy is transforming how nuclear power scales. Our standardized power uprate approach helps assisting commercial nuclear reactors generate and deliver 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity to the U.S. grid through expert project delivery and systemic approach that brings predictability and speed to an industry that needs both.

We're an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring and evaluating people on their work, not their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic that has nothing to do with how well they can do the job.

We're also committed to making our hiring process accessible to everyone. If you need accommodation at any point: applying, interviewing, or otherwise, reach out to your recruiter, who can help arrange it.

Salary range: $150,000--$180,000