QA Program Lead
First dedicated quality hire at Alva Energy: stand up and run the QA program (NQA-1, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, ISO 9001) behind nuclear power uprate projects — drafting procedures, qualifying and auditing suppliers, driving corrective actions, and supporting utility audits and NRC inspections. Hybrid in the Boston/Cambridge area.
- Compensation
- $150K–$180K / yr
- Location
- Cambridge (Hybrid)
- Work setup
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Lead
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Qa
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, or a related technical discipline
- 5-8 years of quality assurance experience in the nuclear industry
- Hands-on experience writing procedures for and maintaining a 10 CFR 50 Appendix B / ASME NQA-1 quality program
- Experience leading or participating in internal or supplier audits, with working knowledge of NQA-1 audit requirements
- Experience coordinating work across consultants, contractors, and internal teams against a defined scope and schedule
- Experience with commercial-grade dedication and 10 CFR Part 21 evaluations
- Demonstrated experience implementing, maintaining, and improving an ISO 9001-compliant quality management system
Nice to have
- Experience building or standing up a quality program at a new or growing organization
- Experience on the supplier or EPC side of the nuclear supply chain
- Participation in NUPIC joint supplier audits
- NQA-1 Lead Auditor qualification (current or previous)
- ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification (e.g., Exemplar Global or CQI/IRCA)
- Familiarity with ISO 45001 and integrated quality and occupational health and safety management systems
- Familiarity with I&C, turbine-generator, or balance-of-plant equipment and power uprate modifications
- Experience with electronic QA records and document control systems
- Experience supporting first-of-a-kind, demonstration, or complex infrastructure projects
Full description
Quality Assurance Program Lead
Title: Quality Assurance Program Lead
Location: Boston (Hybrid) with travel to project or vendor sites as required
Help build the quality program that lets utilities and regulators trust every component behind 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity
We are seeking a Quality Assurance Program Lead to drive day-to-day execution of the quality program behind Alva's power uprate programs. As our first dedicated quality hire, you'll work alongside our quality consultant to stand up an integrated quality program that meets NQA-1 and achieves ISO 9001 compliance, then keep the program running day to day across safety-related work on a first-of-a-kind commercial energy project integrating a novel secondary turbine-generator plant.
In this role, you'll be Alva's in-house expert on quality standards, and the person utilities, suppliers, and NRC inspectors rely on for evidence that safety-related work was done right. This is a hands-on role: you'll draft procedures, qualify suppliers, perform audits, drive corrective actions to closure, and assemble the quality records package at turnover.
What Will You DoCore Responsibilities
- Direct our quality consultant and hold suppliers and contractors to Alva's requirements, driving the stand-up plan to schedule across Engineering, Procurement, and Project Management
- Develop the QA Program Manual and user-focused procedures aligned with NQA-1, Appendix B, and ISO 9001
- Lead the transition from the consultant to Alva through NQA-1 implementation, client acceptance, and knowledge transfer
- Keep procedures current and maintain ISO 9001 compliance, including quality objectives and management reviews, as Alva's scope evolves
- Serve as Alva's in-house expert on quality standards, training staff and advising teams on building quality into their processes
- Conduct or support internal and supplier audits, and maintain the Approved Supplier List
- Own the nonconformance, corrective action, commercial-grade dedication, and 10 CFR Part 21 processes from initiation through closure
- Serve as the quality point of contact for utility and supplier QA organizations, lead client audits and NRC inspections, and report program health to leadership
- Catch quality problems early in design and procurement, before they turn into rework or schedule delays
How to Succeed in This RoleKey CompetenciesTaking Ownership: Manage your workload effectively and demonstrate accountability for outcomes, not just task completion.
Stakeholder Management: Engage clearly with internal partners like Engineering, Project Management, and Procurement, and with external partners, including our quality consultant and utility QA organizations. Provide concise, well-timed updates, and hold the line on quality requirements under schedule pressure.