Senior Software Quality Engineer
About the Role
Join us as we make history at the Hanford Vit Plant, known as the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. We are designing and building a one-of-a-kind facility that will turn radioactive and chemical waste left over from World War II and Cold War plutonium production into a form safe for disposal. Your efforts will help protect the nearby Columbia River and the communities, salmon, and wildlife along its shorelines throughout the Northwest.
Job Summary
The Software Quality Engineer supports the WTP Software Quality Program by applying software quality principles based on NQA 1, DOE O 414.1D, and project requirements. The engineer works with IT experts, quality assurance, and end users, to ensure compliant software quality, development, and maintenance. The role requires clear communication, independent judgment, and disciplined problem solving in a regulated environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate software quality engineering initiatives across multiple projects, ensuring adherence to established standards and best practices.
- Collaborate closely with technical teams and subject matter experts, providing guidance and support to help create clear, effective, and compliant documentation deliverables.
- Lead business analysis efforts to define requirements, map workflows, and drive the creation of robust functional specifications that support software project objectives.
- Manage project timelines, deliverables, and resources to ensure successful completion of quality-related tasks.
- Provide comprehensive documentation support, including creation and maintenance of requirement specifications, test plans, test reports, and process manuals.
- Facilitate communication between stakeholders, development teams, and software quality personnel to align expectations and resolve issues promptly.
- Monitor and report on project progress, risks, and outcomes to software quality and department management.
- Develop and sustain tools or frameworks that systematically capture lessons learned from previous software quality projects, ensuring these insights are integrated into planning, execution, and review phases of future initiatives.
- Supports commercial grade dedication activities for design and analysis software.
- Performs additional duties assigned to support project needs.
Education and Experience
- Requires bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) and 8-10 years of relevant experience or 12-14 years of relevant quality assurance/quality control work experience.
Required Qualifications
- Must be authorized to work and remain in the United States without Bechtel visa sponsorship now or in the future.
- Must be able to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen, physical (if located at the jobsite), and background check which includes verification of employment and education.
- Must be able to obtain a Department of Energy badge for access to the Hanford Site. (Even if teleworking, must still be able to comply with security requirements to obtain a badge.)
- Non-U.S. citizens from countries identified by the Department of Energy as posing heightened security concerns—including sensitive countries, state sponsors of terrorism, countries of risk, and other designated countries –are subject to additional security requirements that limit site access.
- Possesses experience with software quality programs based on standards such as NQA 1 or ISO.
- Demonstrates ability to write, review, and improve implementing software quality documents.
- Interprets and applies regulatory and quality requirements within technical environments.
- Supports evaluations of software processes.
- Experience with software life cycle documentation, change control processes, and configuration management activities.
Preferred Skills
- Applies ASME NQA‑1 2022, DOE O 414.1C/D, and DOE/RW‑0333P in practical work settings.
- Experience with commercial‑grade dedication of software.
- Understands control systems, plant management systems, or engineering design/analysis software.
- Demonstrates advanced knowledge of software development methods, configuration management, requirements processes, databases, programming, and system integration.
Work Location and Schedule
This position is a full-time role that offers part-time telework flexibility in the Richland, Washington project office. Upon initial hire and onboarding, the position will require full time presence in the Richland, Washington project office, then may offer part-time telework flexibility. This position works a 9/80 schedule, offering every other Friday off. Telework designation may be changed in the future at the discretion of the company or project.
Pay
$105,000 - $160,200 annually (salary range is based on market data; final salary offered is determined by education, experience, and qualifications of the applicant.)
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
- Optional disability and supplemental insurance options
- Generous paid time off (160 hours annually, accrued 6.16 hours per pay period)
- Nine paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Discretionary bonuses
- 401K plan with matching and profit-sharing components