Quality Engineer

Fiber Broadband; San Diego, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 73,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense in San Diego, CA is seeking a Quality Engineer to join the Quality Assurance team. You will provide QA/QC, inspections, and technical installation support for PMW 550 NAVSEA sonar and related programs aboard Navy ships.

The role includes training sailors, supporting tests, and coordinating with NAVSEA and shipyards to ensure compliance with standards. Ideal candidates have 2+ years QA experience, 4+ years shipboard installation/QA, and an active DoD Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Quality Engineering/QA discipline or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of Quality Engineering/Quality Assurance experience.
• 4+ years of shipboard electrical/electronic systems installation and QC/Inspector experience.
• 2+ years ISO 9001 internal auditor/lead auditor experience.
• OSHA 10-hour Maritime Shipyard qualification/certification.
• Active DoD Secret clearance required to start.
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid U.S. Passport.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and climb ladders.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality assurance oversight and inspections for electrical, electronic, and mechanical system installation projects aboard DDG- and CG-class ships.
• Assist team leaders and project managers with installation QA/QC and prevention efforts.
• Conduct and support required tests and inspections for installation projects.
• Conduct and support shipboard installation Quality, Safety, Environmental and Production training activities
• Monitor installation activities to ensure compliance with contracts, SOWs, task orders, and drawings.
• Serve as a quality liaison among ship’s force, shipyard personnel, and NAVSEA personnel to resolve issues.
• Develop, prepare, and review quality plans of action for ship and shore installation projects.
• Develop, prepare, and review Test and Inspection QA workbooks and documentation.
• Prepare Quality Control Reports and maintain data in inspection systems.
• Apply corrective actions and root cause analyses (A/B/C).
• Perform installation, fabrication, and wiring of shipboard systems and tests on connectors, fiber optics, CAT5, etc.

Skills

Strong oral and written communication

Microsoft Office proficiency

DoD Secret clearance

Ability to lift 50 pounds and climb

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quality Engineering/QA

Tools

OSHA 10-hour Maritime certification

Shipboard electrical/electronic systems knowledge

Job description

Program Overview

Leidos supports the U.S. Navy under the PMW 550 program, modernizing shipboard sonar capabilities to support fleet readiness and operational superiority. The program focuses on removing legacy sonar systems and installing the updated AN/SQQ-89(V)15 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Combat System aboard Navy surface combatants.

The program includes logistics planning, system installation, integration, testing, and quality assurance to ensure upgraded systems meet Navy performance and compliance standards. The team also provides hands-on training and technical instruction to sailors assigned to the ship, helping prepare them to operate and maintain the new sonar system upon deployment.

Through these modernization efforts, the PMW 550 program enhances the Navy’s ability to detect, track, and counter undersea threats while extending the service life of existing platforms and delivering advanced ASW capabilities to the fleet.

The Opportunity

Leidos Defense is seeking a Quality Engineer to join our Quality Assurance team in San Diego, CA.

In this role, you will provide quality assurance, quality control, inspection, and technical installation support for PMW 550 NAVSEA SONAR SQQ-89 A(V)15 and NIWC (Naval Information Warfare Center) C4ISR installation programs.

Leidos Defense provides systems, solutions, and services across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Our Defense solutions include enterprise and mission IT, large‑scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, intelligence analysis, and operations support.

What You’ll Do

• Perform quality assurance oversight and inspections for electrical, electronic, and mechanical system installation projects aboard DDG- and CG-class ships.


• Assist team leaders and project managers with installation quality assurance, quality control, and prevention efforts.


• Conduct and support required tests and inspections for installation projects.

• Conduct and support shipboard installation Quality, Safety, Environmental and Production training activities

• Monitor installation activities to ensure items identified in contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), task orders, and installation drawings comply with applicable military, commercial, OSHA, and local standards.


• Serve as a quality liaison among ship’s force, shipyard personnel, and NAVSEA customer personnel to help prevent, resolve, and correct installation quality and safety issues and discrepancies.


• Develop, prepare, and review quality plans of action for ship and shore installation projects from start to finish in accordance with NAVSEA, SOW, and contract requirements.


• Develop, prepare, and review Test and Inspection QA workbooks and supporting documentation for ship and shore installation projects in accordance with NAVSEA 009-04 and 9090-310 requirements.


• Prepare Quality Control Reports for each project site from start to finish.


• Enter and maintain report data in the applicable inspection system database or documented reporting format, including gathering trend data.


• Apply knowledge of Method A, B, C, and D corrective actions and develop effective corrective and preventive actions and root cause analyses.


• Perform and support the installation, fabrication, and wiring of shipboard systems, including multi‑pin connectors, fiber optics, CAT5, electrical cable and cableways, multi‑cable penetrations, electrical equipment power panels, transformers, load centers/switchboards, and bonding/grounding.


• Perform I, V, and G tests and inspections on multi‑pin connectors, fiber optics, CAT5, electrical cable and cableways, multi‑cable penetrations, electrical equipment power panels, transformers, load centers/switchboards, bonding/grounding, electrical safety, and surface preservation.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related Quality Engineering/Quality Assurance discipline or equivalent experience. Additional experience, education, and training may be considered in lieu of a degree.


• 2+ years of Quality Engineering/Quality Assurance experience and/or qualification.


• 4+ years of combined shipboard electrical/electronic systems installation and Quality Control/Inspector experience.

• 2+ years of ISO 9001 internal auditor and/or lead auditor experience.

• OSHA 10-hour 7615 Maritime Shipyard Employment qualification/certification.


• Active DoD Secret clearance required to start.


• Must have or be able to obtain a valid U.S. Passport.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.


• Strong oral and written communication skills.


• Ability to lift 50 pounds and climb up and down ladders.

Preferred Qualifications and Certifications

• Shipboard/Submarine Electrical/Electronic Cable and Cableway Installer and Inspector experience and/or qualification.


• Shipboard/Submarine Electrical/Electronic Connector Fabricator and Inspector experience and certification.


• Shipboard/Submarine Fiber Optic Cable Handler, Installer, Fabricator, and Inspector experience and certification.

• Shipboard/Submarine Power Panel, Transformer, load center inspector experience, and/or qualification.

• Experience with basic shipboard/submarine wiring and inspections of electrical/electronic equipment and connection boxes.


• Experience reading and understanding shipboard or submarine system drawings, including electrical, structural, and mechanical drawings.

• Experience with conducting Quality Management System training activities.


• Experience with conducting Navy Shipboard Installation related training activities.

• Shipboard Visual TEMPEST Inspector experience and/or certification.


• Level II NDT Visual Testing (VT) and Penetrant Testing (PT) Inspector of structural welds and piping to meet NAVSEA requirements.


• Familiarity with and understanding of welding requirements for Level II VT and PT observations or inspections of structural welds and piping to meet NAVSEA requirements.


• SCP Shipyard Competent Person.


• NAVSEA PAINT Inspector.


• Experience interfacing with government and Navy representatives and personnel.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Pay Range

Pay Range $73,450.00 - $132,775.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.