Quality Assurance Manager, Software

Exemplar Global; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Iridium is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager for Commercial Services to lead quality assurance activities and drive process improvements within the QMS. You will oversee ISO and customer requirements, coordinate audits, and guide cross-functional teams in implementing effective quality controls for software products and services.

The role requires hands-on QMS experience, strong auditing skills, and a metrics-driven mindset to deliver measurable quality improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in quality assurance, quality systems, software quality, or process improvement.
• Hands-on experience implementing or improving a QMS with ISO 9001 or equivalent.
• Experience supporting or leading quality audits and corrective actions.
• Strong software quality assurance background with understanding of software development processes.
• Experience with root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and continuous improvement.
• Experience developing and analysing quality metrics and driving improvements.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with leadership and technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and support quality assurance activities for Commercial Services, ensuring QMS and customer requirements compliance.
• Serve as the primary Quality contact for Commercial Services, guiding on ISO requirements and process compliance.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and improve quality management processes, procedures, and controls.
• Lead internal and external Corrective Action Requests (CARs) from investigation to closure.
• Provide software quality oversight across development processes and deliverables.
• Participate in New Product Introduction (NPI) program reviews for quality risks and compliance.
• Plan and support internal and external quality audits and action follow-ups.
• Analyze processes to identify gaps, assess risks, and prioritise improvements.
• Develop and maintain quality documentation, procedures, and training materials.
• Establish and analyse quality metrics, translating data into leadership insights.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality management

Root cause analysis

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Software quality assurance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Business Administration, or related field

ASQ CQE

ASQ CMQ/OE

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor

AS9100

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

What We’re Looking For:

Iridium is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager for our Commercial Services. In this role, you’ll lead quality assurance and process improvement activities supporting Iridium’s Quality Management System (QMS), with a focus on software quality, quality management systems, and compliance with established processes and customer requirements.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring our quality processes are effective, documented, measurable, and consistently followed. Working closely with Commercial Services and cross‑functional stakeholders, you’ll identify process gaps, lead root‑cause investigations and corrective actions, support audits, and drive improvements that strengthen the quality and reliability of our products and services.

The ideal candidate brings hands‑on experience implementing, maintaining, or improving a Quality Management System (QMS), practical knowledge of ISO 9001 or AS9100 requirements, and a strong understanding of software development and software quality assurance. You’ll be comfortable working with leadership and technical teams to turn business requirements into effective processes and measurable results.

What You’ll Do:

• Own and support quality assurance activities for Commercial Services, ensuring compliance with Iridium’s Quality Management System (QMS), applicable quality standards, and customer requirements.
• Serve as the primary Quality point of contact for Commercial Services, providing guidance on quality management systems, ISO requirements, process compliance, and best practices.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve quality management processes, procedures, and controls to support consistent execution and measurable outcomes.
• Lead internal and external Corrective Action Requests (CARs), including investigation, root cause analysis, corrective action planning, effectiveness reviews, and closure.
• Provide software quality assurance oversight across development processes and deliverables, ensuring appropriate controls, documentation, verification activities, and compliance with established requirements.
• Participate in New Product Introduction (NPI) program reviews, identifying quality risks and ensuring compliance with established processes, quality requirements, and deliverable expectations.
• Plan, coordinate, and support internal and external quality audits and assessments, including preparation, evidence collection, findings resolution, and follow‑up actions.
• Analyze existing processes to identify gaps, assess risks, and prioritise improvement initiatives based on business impact.
• Develop and maintain quality documentation, procedures, and training materials to support consistent implementation, auditing, and historical record‑keeping.
• Establish and analyse quality and process performance metrics, translating data into actionable insights and recommendations for leadership.
• Partner with cross‑functional stakeholders to drive continuous improvement, strengthen process ownership, and address systemic quality issues.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in quality assurance, quality systems, software quality, or process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience implementing, maintaining, or improving a Quality Management System (QMS), including practical experience applying ISO 9001 requirements or an equivalent recognised quality management framework.
• Experience supporting or leading quality audits, addressing audit findings, and driving corrective actions through resolution.
• Strong background in Software Quality Assurance, with an understanding of software development processes, quality controls, verification activities, and software deliverables.
• Hands‑on experience with root‑cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience developing and analysing quality metrics, identifying trends, and using data to drive improvements.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, work effectively with leadership, and communicate quality requirements to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• A strong sense of ownership and urgency, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive projects and corrective actions to completion.
• A problem‑solving mindset and the curiosity to identify underlying causes, implement effective solutions, and prevent recurring issues.

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table:

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organisational Excellence (CMQ/OE).
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.
• Experience with AS9100 or other industry‑specific quality management standards.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other formal process improvement training or certification.

We’ll also need you to:

• This position directly performs under, supports, or is exposed to a U.S. government contract. To comply with the requirements of that U.S. government contract, applicants for this position must be U.S. citizens
• Be able to travel domestically up to 10%
• Be able to work a hybrid schedule that includes at least 4 days in office

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in‑person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least four days per week (approximately 80%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship‑building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $105,000 - $140,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.