Quality Assurance Manager

Socket.dev; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent paid time off

Healthcare coverage

Retirement plan

Job summary

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead organization-wide QA initiatives at the NRAO HQ in Charlottesville, VA. You will develop practical QA plans, coach teams, and conduct independent audits to ensure adherence to processes and measurable improvements.

Responsibilities include establishing gates, metrics, and reporting on quality risks and trends while collaborating with project teams and leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience building and implementing QA frameworks tailored to projects.
• Ability to lead audits, identify deficiencies, and drive corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills and risk-based thinking.
• Proven collaboration with project teams and leadership.
• Excellent documentation and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain organization-wide QA processes and guidelines.
• Collaborate with systems engineers to tailor QA plans per project.
• Assess risks, requirements, and delivery approaches for QA strategy.
• Provide hands-on QA support for high-risk initiatives.
• Coach teams on testing, reviews, controls, and continuous improvement.
• Establish quality gates, metrics, and acceptance criteria.
• Conduct independent QA audits and assess process adherence.
• Identify gaps and drive corrective actions with teams.
• Report trends and audit findings to management clearly.
• Promote a culture of built-in quality throughout delivery.

Skills

QA leadership

Quality management

Auditing & assessment

Risk management

Process improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Position Description:

Position Summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe.

At NRAO, we are seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead and strengthen our quality assurance practices across projects and teams. This is not a role focused solely on writing policies and procedures. The successful candidate will combine QA leadership, hands-on collaboration, coaching, and independent auditing. You will establish effective QA processes and standards while working directly with project teams to develop practical, tailored QA plans that reflect the risks, complexity, and objectives of each project. You will be expected to be a trusted partner to project teams and help them apply QA practices effectively, provide hands-on assistance when needed, and independently assess whether agreed processes are being followed and are achieving the desired outcomes.

The location for this position will be at the NRAO HQ located in Charlottesville, VA on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Domestic travel will be required up to 25%.

What You Will be Doing:

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve organization-wide QA processes, standards, procedures, and guidelines.
• Work closely with systems engineers, project teams, stakeholders, and other personnel to develop tailored QA plans for individual projects.
• Assess project-specific risks, requirements, timelines, and delivery approaches when determining appropriate QA strategies.
• Provide hands-on QA support and guidance to project teams when necessary, particularly on complex, high-risk, or strategically important initiatives.
• Coach and mentor project teams on effective quality practices, testing, documentation, reviews, controls, and continuous improvement.
• Establish appropriate quality gates, checkpoints, metrics, and acceptance criteria.
• Conduct independent QA audits and assessments to determine whether projects are following approved processes and QA plans.
• Proactively identify gaps, risks, non-conformances, and opportunities for improvement, partnering with project teams to develop and implement effective and sustainable corrective actions.
• Drive corrective actions through successful completion, verifying implementation effectiveness, and ensuring measurable, lasting improvements.
• Provide management with clear, objective reporting on project quality, risks, trends, audit findings, and areas requiring attention.
• Promote a culture in which quality is built into project delivery rather than treated as a final-stage inspection.
• Continuously evaluate QA practices and recommend improvements based on lessons learned, project outcomes, industry practices, and emerging risks.

Work Environment

Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. Occasional domestic and international travel will be required.

Who You Are:

• You have a bachelor's degree in engineering or related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in quality assurance, quality management, project delivery, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience independently developing and implementing QA processes, frameworks, standards, and procedures.
• Strong experience creating project-specific QA plans rather than relying solely on standardized, one-size-fits-all processes.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with project teams and provide practical, hands-on QA support.
• Experience conducting process and project audits, identifying deficiencies, and driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle management, risk management, quality controls, testing/review practices, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to distinguish meaningful quality risks from administrative issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence teams without simply acting as a compliance function.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with project, facility, and observatory leadership the status of QA efforts.
• Ability to balance independence and objectivity with a collaborative, service-oriented approach.
• Experience working across multiple projects, disciplines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong documentation, reporting, facilitation, and organizational skills.

Additional Requirement

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position.

Total Rewards:

Compensation

The starting salary of this position is between $114,019-$138,024. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions.

Benefits:

Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides:

• Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days)
• Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment.
• AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution.
• Click Total Rewards for more information.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit https://public.nrao.edu/careers/. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to [e-mail]. PM20