Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. 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. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.

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.

Domestic travel will be required up to 25%.

Pay

The starting salary for this position is between $114,019 and $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

• Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days).
• Medical, dental, and vision plans 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.