Quality Assurance Engineering, Lead Associate

Peraton is currently seeking to hire a Quality Assurance Engineering Advisor for the Corporate Quality organization.  This role is responsible for ensuring the quality, compliance, and responsiveness of proposal submissions, authoring quality management plans, and reviewing service level agreements (SLAs) to support successful contract pursuits. This position is located in Reston/Herndon and the selected candidate will report to the Corporate Vice President of Quality. 

The successful candidate must possess a complete and thorough understanding of Program Management, Quality, and Proposal Development as well as proven leadership, managerial, and communication skills across all levels of the company. The successful candidate must have a superior ability to establish and nurture an excellent working relationship with capture managers, subject matter experts (SMEs), and technical teams to deliver compelling, well-crafted proposals that meet or exceed customer expectations.  Key responsibilities include:

Quality Plan Authoring

• Develop, author, and maintain comprehensive Quality Management Plans (QMPs) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASPs) in support of proposal submissions and contract performance
• Define quality objectives, standards, and metrics tailored to program requirements and customer expectations
• Establish quality control processes, inspection criteria, and corrective action procedures within proposal quality plans
• Translate customer requirements and solicitation language into actionable quality frameworks and documentation
• Collaborate with program managers, technical leads, and compliance teams to ensure quality plans reflect realistic and achievable standards
• Update and revise quality plans throughout the proposal lifecycle to reflect scope changes or evolving requirements

SLA Review and Development

• Review and analyze Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure alignment with contractual obligations, performance standards, and organizational capabilities
• Assess proposed SLA metrics for feasibility, measurability, and compliance with RFP/RFQ requirements
• Identify risks or gaps in SLA language and recommend modifications to protect organizational interests while meeting customer expectations
• Support the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance measurement frameworks tied to SLA commitments
• Coordinate with operational and technical teams to validate SLA thresholds and reporting requirements prior to proposal submission
• Ensure SLA language within proposals is consistent, enforceable, and clearly defined

Proposal Quality and Review

• Work with the Growth organization to ensure Quality is appropriately included in all proposals
• Review and edit proposal responses to ensure clarity, accuracy, compliance, and alignment with quality solicitation requirements
• Conduct quality reviews of proposal sections prior to submission, identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement
• Evaluate proposal drafts against RFP/RFQ requirements and provide actionable feedback
• Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) and capture/proposal teams to refine and strengthen written responses
• Ensure proposal content adheres to evaluation criteria
• Support color team reviews by providing structured critique and recommendations
• Track revisions and manage version control throughout the proposal lifecycle
• Contribute to continuous improvement of proposal processes and quality standards
• Develop and maintain quality checklists, templates, and review matrices

• Bachelor’s degree required with 5+ years’ experience in Program Management, Systems Engineering or Mission/Quality Assurance., or 3+ years of experience with a Masters Degree. 
• 9+ years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree. 
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, technical writing, and quality assurance within a government contracting or commercial environment.
• Experience authoring Quality Management Plans (QMPs) or similar quality documentation
• Strong analytical and editorial skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Experience reviewing and evaluating SLAs and performance-based contract language
• Proficiency in reviewing content for compliance, responsiveness, and win theme alignment
• Familiarity with proposal development methodologies
• Experience working with cross-functional teams under tight deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and oral), strong organizational skills and a positive temperament are crucial.
• Strong working knowledge in some or all the following standards ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2026, AS9100, CMMI-DEV Level 3 or above, CMMI-SVC Level 3 or above.
• US. Citizen able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Familiarity with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and government procurement processes
• Experience supporting proposals across multiple contract types (IDIQ, CPFF, FFP, T&M)
• Active TS/SCI Clearance