Director Mission Assurance 1

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Division is seeking a Quality Mission Excellence Director 1 for our San Diego, CA location.
10% travel required. Relocation assistance may be available.
The Quality and Mission Assurance (QMA) Director position will be responsible for leading the QMA functions for the San Diego location as the primary point of contact for QMA performance in the CNS Business unit and will report to the NIC Division QMA Director. The QMA Director is an experienced leader, possessing demonstrated expertise in the core areas of strategy, process development, process analysis and performance management, operational excellence, and risk management.
The position requires a solution-based orientation, unwavering ethics, and values, and demonstrated ability to be a trusted partner. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated success:

Leading broad organizations within cost and schedule, executing, monitoring, and reporting on the health of our quality system and programs

Achieving a high level of employee engagement and innovation

Proven track record of solving complex problems through systematic and objective evaluation of information resulting in effective communication, championing, and implementation of change with a diverse set of internal and external customers and suppliers

Building a continuous improvement culture focused on developing our teams, technical skills, and process excellence

Roles & Responsibilities:

Define and monitor program specifications, quality metrics, internal audit metrics and processes to ensure mission success.

Promote the professional development of the Quality & Mission Assurance workforce and fosters a collaborative culture that sustains the momentum around employee engagement and inclusion, affordability, innovation, value growth and continuous improvement.

Maintain the highest level of commitment to quality, compliance, and internal controls in adherence to company values and ethics.

Provide clear assignments, helps employees connect their efforts to the bigger picture, creates an inclusive work environment characterized by mutual respect and the valuing of differences, and builds a culture that motivates employees to their highest levels of performance.

Assure compliance in quality, risk management, safety, process improvement, subcontractor and supplier quality, configuration, and data management in accordance with contractual requirements.

Leverage comprehensive metrics, customer, and employee feedback to assess program performance and risks and determines resources to ensure mission success.

Develop and manage budgets, schedules, and performance standards.

Responsible for the preparation of proposals and program EACs for the Quality & Mission Assurance team.

Frequent interface with executives and customer representatives including on-site DCMA representatives concerning projects, operational decisions, scheduling requirements, and contractual clarifications.

Thought leader influencing and impacting strategy for the program, quality, Quality & Mission Assurance while driving innovative change.

Responsible for developing and implementing Capital Equipment, NCTA, and MTA plans for the department.

Regularly requires analysis of alternative courses of action for continued program quality.

Serve as the chair for the San Diego site Corrective Action Board.

The ideal candidate will possess:

Demonstrated ability to apply strong analytical skills and Lean Agile methodologies.

Strong leadership skills and experience communicating at all levels of the organization; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Willingness to learn and grow with the job and a collaborative approach with team and stakeholders.

Demonstrated ability to work proactively in a dynamic and collaborative environment with minimal supervision or direction, courage of conviction, and manage change effectively.

Demonstrated understanding of the program / product lifecycle areas of new business pursuit in two or more areas including design, supply chain management, receiving operations, inventory control, production control, product test and evaluation, reliability, root cause analysis, product sell off, shipping and product support as they apply to quality.

Basic Qualifications for the Director Quality Mission Excellence:

Bachelor's Degree in STEM / Operations / Project management / Leadership or related field of study and a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience

7 or more years of experience in Quality Engineering / Mission Assurance / Program Management / Project Management / Global Supply Chain

5 or more years of experience managing teams

Experience with ISO 9001 / AS9100 Quality Management System

Experience with Quality Management Systems and measuring program, process, and quality performance and continuous improvement.

Experience in leading independent assessments, root cause/corrective action investigations, quality assessments/audits, and program gate reviews

Experience indicative of IPT leadership or direct-line management (basis of estimate methods, development program/project schedules).

Ability to attain and maintain DoD Secret security clearance with ability to attain and maintain higher clearance levels as required.

US Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications for the Director Quality Mission Excellence:

Master's Degree in STEM or MBA

Experience leading non-exempt, technical, and management teams

Experience as a leader in Operations, Quality, or Global Supply Chain

Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt certification to drive continuous improvement.

Experience with Agile process and tools (JIRA/Confluence)

Experience with various industry standards and mil specs (JSTD, IPC)

* ASQ Certified Quality Manager / Organizational Excellence (CQM/OE)

Primary Level Salary Range: $203,900.00 - $305,900.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Client-provided location(s): San Diego, CA

Job ID: NorthropGrumman-R10223759

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-02-25T19:53:52