What are the responsibilities and job description for the Software Quality Assurance Lead position at The David Walter Group, LLC?
Software Quality Assurance Lead
The David Walter Group, LLC (DWG) · 1099 Contract Position
Remote (Richland, WA preferred) · Contract duration: as-needed in 1–2 month blocks, up to 180 hours per block
About DWG
The David Walter Group is an SDVOSB built around one principle: put the right people on the right work and get out of their way. We support federal clients across DOE, DoD, and DHS — primarily as a subcontractor to large primes — providing project management, engineering, scientific, and compliance support. We run lean. No bureaucracy, no hand-holding. If you know your craft and can operate independently in a high-compliance environment, you'll fit here.
Position Summary
DWG is looking for an experienced SQA Lead to provide technical oversight of software quality assurance activities on DOE Hanford site projects. You will assess whether software systems meet compliance requirements, lead and mentor QA testers, and interface directly with client stakeholders. This is a hands-on technical leadership role — not a management seat. You write plans, execute reviews, find problems, and document findings with precision.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead and mentor SQA testers — set technical direction, review work products, and hold the team to standard.
• Analyze system requirements and develop test plans, test cases, and test data that actually stress the system.
• Execute automated and manual testing using SQL, file management tools, and configuration review techniques.
• Assess CPCCo software configuration management compliance against CPCC-PRO-IRM-309, including version identifiers, change control, configuration status accounting, baseline identification, and system software documentation.
• Conduct document reviews and stakeholder interviews to evaluate compliance posture and identify gaps.
• Plan, document, and track testing results — maintain a complete, auditable test documentation library.
• Communicate findings clearly to client stakeholders; drive resolution of defects and compliance issues.
• Manage daily workload planning, staffing assignments, and training for the QA team.
Specialized Requirements — CPCCo SCM Compliance
This position requires direct experience assessing software configuration management compliance in a DOE-regulated environment. Candidates must demonstrate:
• Proven experience determining whether CPCCo is managing software configuration in accordance with CPCC-PRO-IRM-309, Controlled Software Management.
• Ability to review representative software documentation samples for compliance, with focus on: Consistent Version Identifiers, Change Control and Approvals, Configuration Status Accounting, Configuration Item Identification, Software Baseline Identification, and System Software Identification.
• Proficiency conducting structured document reviews and compliance interviews.
Required Qualifications
• 10 years of experience in software quality assessments.
• 2 years leading assessments in a technical or regulated environment.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (2 years of additional experience substitutes for 1 year of education).
• US citizen currently residing in the United States.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE site access badge (no recent disqualifying criminal history).
Other Qualifications
• Experience in DOE, NRC, or similarly regulated nuclear or federal environments strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills evaluating software documentation and configuration management practices.
• Clear written and verbal communication — you will be writing findings reports and presenting to client PMs.
• Ability to work from the Richland, WA area with occasional on-site presence at the client location is a strong differentiator. Remote candidates will be considered.
Preferred Certifications
• ASQ Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
• ASME NQA-1 Lead Auditor Certification
• ISTQB Certified Tester — Foundation, Advanced, or Expert level
• CMMI Professional Certification
• ASQ Risk Management Specialized Credential
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
Contract Terms
This is a 1099 independent contractor position. No benefits are provided outside of compensation. Work is awarded in 1–2 month blocks, up to 180 hours per block, on an as-needed basis driven by contract requirements. Continuity of engagement depends on client demand and performance.
How to Apply
Submit your resume and a brief cover letter to david@davidwaltergroupllc.com. In your cover letter, include specific examples of your experience with software configuration management compliance assessments — particularly in DOE or nuclear-regulated environments. Generic applications without relevant compliance experience will not be considered.
We provide project management, construction support, logistics, and scientific and engineering services to the federal agencies and prime contractors responsible for our nation's most critical infrastructure. Our clients work across the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies — and they come to us when the margin for error is zero.
DWG was founded by David Walter, a retired Air Force Colonel with command experience spanning vertical and horizontal construction, environmental remediation, explosive ordnance disposal, firefighting, and emergency response. That background shaped a simple operating principle: mission success starts with people, not processes.
We operate as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), and we take that designation seriously — not as a checkbox, but as a commitment to the standard of service our clients and teammates deserve.
Whether we're augmenting a prime contractor's team with specialized talent or delivering turnkey engineering and project management support, we bring the same thing to every engagement: people who know the mission, understand the stakes, and show up ready to deliver.
DWG is headquartered in the Pacific Northwest with operations nationwide.