Duties & Responsibilities:
Guides the development, implementation, and evaluation of processes, procedures and applications contributing to the overall objective of maintaining an effective quality program.
Individuals at this level have broad extensive knowledge, uses skills to contribute to development of objectives and principles and to achieve goals in creative and effective ways. Develops advanced concepts, techniques, and standards based on professional principles and theories. Viewed as an expert in the field within the Laboratory. Works on unusually significant, unique or complex issues. Provides solutions that are highly creative and where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangibles. Has impact on successes of future concepts, products or technologies. Erroneous decisions or recommendations would normally result in failure to reach goals crucial to significant organizational objectives and would profoundly affect the image of the organization.
Creates formal networks involving coordination among groups, and other key decision makers. Regular contacts with other resources internal and external to the organization. Works under consultative direction toward predetermined long‐range targets. Assignments are often self‐initiated. Virtually self‐supervisory. Uses independent judgment for determining course of action to accomplish objectives. Uses wide latitude in the methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
Safety and security are a primary responsibility for all Laboratory employees. Assures safety and security compliance, maintains required safety and security training, and makes safety and security an integral part of every task, including taking the necessary steps to stop work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.
Determine and define institutional quality assurance/quality control objectives and assignments.
Understand and adhere to Laboratory and industry regulatory guidance and governance specific to Quality Assurance (QA).
Ensure quality assurance results, materials, processes and final products meet quality specifications and are completed and accurate according to established requirements.
Direct other quality engineers, quality specialists, and technical specialists in the planning, conduct, and reporting of vendor and internal independent assessments, surveillances, and audits.
Provide direct oversight of specific assignment area QA plans, assessment support to line managers, supplier evaluation scheduling and coordination; pre‐evaluation; notification; reporting; corrective action; and documentation.
Prepare, train others, and implement institutional level QA policies and QA procedures.
Develop actions taken in response to audit findings to assure adequacy of completed corrective actions, providing recommendations on best practices to effectively address the findings.
Mentor Laboratory personnel with the implementation and understanding of QA policies, plans, and procedures, providing Laboratory management with recommendations and advice.
Direct, prepare, review, receive, index, classify, and transmit administrative and QA records.
Direct technical expertise and initiative in identifying areas to which quality assurance practices may be introduced and enhanced.
Direct and develop institutional QA training programs and methods of training for effective implementation of QA programs.
Interact with production agency and design agency staff members.
Direct guidance, philosophies, and recommendations for the preparation of facility and weapons‐related quality assurance procedures.
Review and approve inspection reports.
Initiates, validates, and closes non‐conformance reports.
Direct and mentor Lean Six Sigma techniques to execute the assessment process to identify process problems and suggest improvements.
Conduct technical evaluation studies of QA controls.
Support the development of weapons quality systems associated with production and/or design activities.
Direct and evaluate weapons design agency and/or production agency engineering authorizations to determine compliance with National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) technical business practices and quality requirements.
Provide technical support to one or more weapons production processes for compliance with technical and quality requirements.
Provide guidance to junior staff in the development and operation of quality control systems.
Develop testing and inspection procedures, implements those procedures and analyzes the results.
Apply expert‐level quality control techniques and statistical process control methods to identify correct measurement methods, tools, and/or systems; identify data collection points; and analyze the data in order to identify failure modes, track trends, focus improvement actions, rate the performance, and measure effectiveness.
Develop and define technical and performance specifications, quality levels, sampling plans, and inspection plans or procedures.
Review receiving inspection reports, certificates of compliance and conformance and related test reports to determine validity.
Analyze test data and write evaluation reports.
Develop and define the metrics and methods of reporting that show measurement of QA and quality control (QC) processes.
Develop define and design test strategies for the analysis and qualification of products or manufacturing processes.
Develop, plan and conduct analysis, inspection, design, and testing activities.
Perform quality‐engineering reviews of design documents.
Direct and mentor structured problem‐solving teams and applies statistical methods and other problem solving tools to resolve problems.
Monitor project engineering, environmental, procurement, construction, testing, operations, and other activities related to the quality program/plan.
Review and report on selected engineering and procurement documents to assure the inclusion of applicable quality requirements.
Review and report on new or revised requirements and their impact on the established QA program.
Mentor less senior quality engineers or quality specialists in the development, implementation, and understanding of QA programs, procedures, and processes.
Set institutional quality standards for the Laboratory.
Represent the Laboratory at Department of Energy (DOE) complex, industry, and QA standards committee meetings.
Conduct audits, assessments, and surveillances of programs and activities against QA and QC requirements applicable to the program or activity being assessed.
Interface with project personnel, e.g. project management, engineering, construction, subcontractors, etc., to ensure project activities meet QA, QC, and customer requirements.
Develop, define, identify, and apply product and process control methods such as developing control plans, identifying critical control points, developing and validating work instructions, etc. (design verification).
Develop, define, interpret, and apply the concepts of producer and consumer risk and related terms, and ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 and Z1.9 standards. Identify measurement tools, destructive and nondestructive tests, and metrology.
Select and describe appropriate uses of inspection tools such as gage blocks, calipers, micrometers, optical comparators, etc. (measurement tools).
Foster a mutually respectful work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.
Position Requirements:
12 years of directly related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Advanced relevant degree preferred.
Familiarity with Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1)
Expert level knowledge of and experience with QA activities including, but not limited to, system and/or performance audits, assessments, and surveillance, recommending and implementing corrective actions, providing thorough and accurate documentation of technical and/or statistical reports, and ensuring quality assurance compliance.
Extensive knowledge of and experience with QA regulations, policies, and procedures.
Readily understands and interprets various physical, mechanical, and electrical documents, blueprints, drawings, and schematics.
Expert level experience and demonstrated skill in conducting research, investigating alternative solutions, and recommending solutions on problems affecting quality assurance.
Expert level skills to conceptualize and communicate QA concepts and applications to both technical and non‐technical personnel.
Expert level knowledge of national consensus standards of quality assurance, such as ASME, ISO, ANSI/ASME NQA‐1, and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulatory guide series.
Expert level knowledge of the weapons quality requirements: Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), weapons quality policy (NAP‐24), nuclear weapons complex technical business practices, NNSA development and production manual, and the NNSA quality assurance procedure weapons manufacturing, production, and design operations and practices, as well as weapons systems.
Expert level knowledge of assessment/audit practices.
Expert level ability to use metrology and statistical methods to diagnose and correct improper quality control practices.
Demonstrated understanding of quality cost concepts and techniques.
Expert level knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information systems and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.
Expert level technical knowledge in the application of engineering, environmental, procurement, construction, testing, operations, practices sufficient to comprehend specified engineering, environmental, procurement, construction, testing, operations, and certification requirements.
Expert‐level ability to mentor personnel in their area of expertise
Expert‐level knowledge of Laboratory weapons processes, those at other NWC sites and how they are assembled into the nuclear weapon stockpile.
Recognized as an advanced‐level knowledge in their area of focus.
Ability to perform strategic thinking for development of institutional programs and initiatives.
Expert‐level experience in the development and implementation of quality assurance and control programs typical experience of at least 11‐12 years with nuclear and DOE QA programs.
Education or equivalent experience in a technical discipline; typically and engineering or science degree o appropriate combination of education and experience that would allow the candidate to be recognized in the DOE complex as an expert.
Demonstrated advanced level knowledge and experience using statistics and statistical methods to analyze issues, identify failure modes, make decisions, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness.
Expert level knowledge of construction codes and standards, and applying quality requirements to construction projects, where applicable.
Expert level knowledge of project management methodologies and applying quality requirements to projects being managed through a formal project management process.
Expert level knowledge of various business systems and functional organizations across the Laboratory, how they are related, and the ability to apply quality requirements across these organizations in a consistent, integrated manner.

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or Industrial Systems Engineering or a related field from an accredited institution.