Program Director

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Your greatest work is ahead!

Leidos' Defense Systems is seeking a Quality Program Manager. 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.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world's toughest security challenges for customers with "can't fail" missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

Are you ready to make an impact? Share your resume with us today!

Primary Responsibilities.
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 5+ years of experience, including prior leadership of quality or mission assurance teams in defense/aerospace production. In lieu of degree, 10+ years' experience in a low-rate/ high- rate Manufacturing and Quality production environment. OR Master\'s degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related discipline with 3+ 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 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.

If you\'re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We\'re not hiring followers. We\'re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We\'re already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

June 17, 2026

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.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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 ;br>
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 ;br>
Securing Your Data

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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-Discrimination

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.