IFPC Quality Manager

Description

UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing-for our customers, our people, and our communities.

THE MISSION

Leidos is a key partner to the U.S. Army on the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Program, a next-generation, ground-based defense system designed to counter evolving aerial threats including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), cruise missiles, and rockets. As we transition from development into full-rate production, Leidos continues to expand our Huntsville-based operations to ensure system performance, readiness, and mission assurance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking an experienced IFPC Quality Manager to lead all program-level quality efforts in support of production, integration, and delivery. This individual will directly manage the program quality team and maintain a dotted-line relationship with the Leidos site quality team. The Quality Manager will also serve as the primary interface with external quality stakeholders, including the U.S. Army Program Office, SHIELD IFPC Project Office, and DCMA.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead the IFPC program quality team, ensuring compliance with AS9100, ISO, and Army quality standards.

• Provide hands-on leadership to the IFPC quality team, mentoring and developing quality engineers and inspectors to ensure efficient operational support and continuous improvement.

• Coach, train, and guide program quality staff to align with the corporate Quality Management System and Defense Systems Sector requirements.

• Foster a program quality strategy and culture committed to excellence and Leidos values, enabling rapid manufacturing scaling.

Quality Program Management & Compliance

• Maintain close coordination with the Leidos site quality team to ensure consistent process control, product acceptance, and effective execution of corrective actions.

• Oversee inspection and test documentation, ensuring compliance with customer requirements and configuration baselines.

• Support production readiness reviews, configuration audits, and fulfillment of contractual deliverables related to quality data and acceptance.

Customer & Supplier Interface

• Serve as the primary interface with external quality stakeholders, including the U.S. Army Program Office, SHIELD IFPC Project Office, and DCMA.

• Maintain oversight of supplier quality performance, ensuring supplier metrics, audits, and corrective actions align with program standards.

Metrics, Analysis & Improvement

• Establish, monitor, and analyze quality metrics (yield, rework, NCR rates, escape rates) and targeted KPIs to drive performance visibility, process health, improvement, and compliance.

• Analyze KPI trends and inspection data to proactively identify systemic issues, drive root cause investigations, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Drive continual improvement initiatives to enhance product conformity, reduce rework, and strengthen mission assurance.

Process & Issue Management

• Develop, implement, and oversee inspection strategies, including statistically valid sampling plans aligned with customer, regulatory, and corporate standards.

• Drive Material Review Boards (MRB), Failure Review Boards (FRB), and ensure timely closure of root cause and corrective actions across all program areas.

• Ensure timely and sustained resolution of internal and external audit findings and requirement escapes by conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive measures.

• Effectively address escalated quality issues in a timely manner.

Business Lifecycle & Reporting

• Serve as a stakeholder for quality throughout the business lifecycle, including new business capture, procurement, program execution.

• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to achieve first-pass yield and product reliability objectives.

• Report regularly to senior leadership on inspection results, KPI performance, audit outcomes, and quality improvement progress.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related discipline with 8- years of experience, including prior leadership of quality or mission assurance teams in defense/aerospace production.

• OR Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related discipline with 6- years of experience, including prior leadership of quality or mission assurance teams in defense/aerospace production.

• Proven experience in AS9100/ISO9001 systems, configuration management, and corrective action systems.

• Strong background in production quality management for complex defense hardware or weapon systems.

• Demonstrated ability to lead customer interactions with Army quality offices and DCMA.

• U.S. Citizenship required; must have or be eligible for a Secret clearance.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Relevant experience with all aspects of quality in a defense and space-focused manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis and continual improvement.

• Prior experience with implementing AS9100.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Must be a US Citizen, possess a DoD secret clearance or able to obtain and maintain an active secret clearance.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain credentials to access government installations.

• Must be proficient in utilizing Microsoft Office products.

• Must have exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Six Sigma Black Belt.

• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and metrics-based quality reporting.

• Familiarity with IBCS integration and Army missile system production.

• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, Windchill, Oracle Agile, or Solumina MES systems.

• Experience in medium-volume/high-mix production environments.

• Experience in both component fabrication and assembly/integration production environments.

WHY LEIDOS

Leidos' Defense Systems Sector delivers trusted solutions that protect people and critical assets. From system design and development to sustainment and modernization, our teams are solving the world's toughest defense challenges for customers with "can't fail" missions.

At Leidos, we don't want someone who "fits the mold"-we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, "what's next?" before the dust settles on "what's now."

If you're already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2... good. You'll fit right in.

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Descrimination

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.