Quality Assurance Leader - Aerospace Systems (5222C), Space Sciences Laboratory - #87732

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About the Role

The Quality Assurance Leader, Aerospace Systems provides technical leadership and independent oversight across the full lifecycle of advanced aerospace systems, from pioneering scientific instruments for interplanetary exploration to next-generation satellite, launch vehicle, and command-and-control architectures. This position ensures quality is engineered into every phase of development by driving rigorous verification, risk management, process discipline, and compliance with NASA Safety & Mission Assurance and aerospace industry standards. Working alongside engineering, manufacturing, integration, and supplier teams, the Quality Assurance Leader helps transform breakthrough concepts into mission-ready hardware capable of performing flawlessly in the unforgiving environments of launch and deep space.

Leadership spans design reviews, manufacturing surveillance, hardware inspections, supplier oversight, environmental and functional testing, anomaly resolution, and flight readiness verification, ensuring every system is built for reliability, safety, and mission success. At launch sites, this position provides critical quality oversight during spacecraft integration, fueling, encapsulation, and launch vehicle processing, safeguarding every milestone leading to flight.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and subject-matter expertise in Aerospace Quality Assurance and NASA Safety & Mission Assurance, setting technical direction and quality standards that drive mission success and enterprise-wide risk mitigation.
• Provides expert technical oversight across design, fabrication, integration, and test of spaceflight hardware, evaluating compliance with NASA requirements and flagging quality risks early to protect mission reliability.
• Partners with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to resolve complex technical issues, drive effective corrective actions, and build a culture of continuous quality improvement through direct, hands-on technical engagement.
• Verifies mission-critical hardware against aerospace quality and workmanship standards through detailed inspections, procedural compliance reviews, manufacturing surveillance, and witnessing of qualification and acceptance testing.
• Investigates quality issues, analyzes technical data, and produces clear, actionable reports and documentation that support sound decision-making, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across programs.

Requirements

• Detailed knowledge of Aerospace Quality Assurance requirements.
• Knowledge of NASA Safety and Mission Assurance requirements.
• Infrequent travel to partners and subcontractors; possible longer travel associated with launches.
• U.S. Person status—defined as a lawful permanent resident or protected individual under U.S. immigration law, or an entity incorporated to do business in the U.S.
• Required to hold a valid driver’s license and maintain a driving record in accordance with local policies/procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace systems knowledge or other engineering specialties supporting Aerospace Quality Assurance.
• Skills in managing large volumes of information and creating professional documentation for customers.
• Advanced degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Post-graduate level coursework in a related area.

Pay

The budgeted annual salary range for this position is $140,000.00 - $175,000.00, with a full pay scale classification range of $130,935.00 - $252,945.00. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.

Schedule

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for University of California benefits.

First review date: August 17, 2026. For full consideration, apply on or before this date.

This is an on-site position at the University of California, Berkeley - Space Sciences Laboratory. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship and does not include support for new H-1B petitions requiring the $100,000 supplemental fee. This role is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between UAW and the University of California Regents.

This position requires fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. The University reviews conviction histories in the context of job duties and reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.