BEN WHITTY
Huntsville,AL
Summary
Strategic and results-driven Software Quality Engineer with demonstrated success influencing program execution, driving systemic process improvement, and providing independent quality leadership within a complex defense software development environment. Trusted cross-functional partner to engineering, program leadership, quality, safety, configuration management, and customer stakeholders. Combines technical quality expertise with business execution acumen through $1.6M Control Account Management responsibility, executive program review support, audit leadership, corrective action ownership, and risk-informed decision support. Proven ability to operate independently under general direction while identifying execution risks, strengthening process effectiveness, and enabling program success across Agile / SAFe software development environments. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Engineering Management with long-term focus on senior program quality, project engineering, and program leadership roles.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Software Quality Engineer
LOCKHEED MARTIN
Huntsville, AL
10.2023 - Current
- Provide independent software and program quality leadership for a complex defense software development program supporting U.S. Government mission objectives.
- Lead quality assurance oversight across program execution activities, identifying systemic risks, strengthening process effectiveness, and driving continuous improvement across the software lifecycle.
- Led 15 formal audits across program processes and technical work products, surfacing execution risks and improvement opportunities that strengthened program compliance and operational discipline.
- Authored and drove closure of 3 Corrective Action Requests (CARs) and 3 Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), addressing root causes and enabling sustainable corrective and preventative improvements.
- Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) for Program Quality and Safety with responsibility for approximately $1.6M in program scope, supporting resource planning, ETC/EAC performance reviews, variance analysis, and financial execution accountability.
- Supported 30+ Program Management Reviews (PMRs) and executive leadership engagements, translating quality, execution, and risk insights into actionable decision-support inputs.
- Drove workforce compliance and execution readiness initiatives impacting 115+ program personnel through process enforcement, training accountability, and quality awareness efforts.
- Partner across engineering, systems, test, product, program management, safety, and configuration management to improve integration readiness, verification effectiveness, release discipline, and overall program execution.
- Support DCMA / customer audit engagement, audit readiness activities, and quality governance interactions with government stakeholders.
- Participate in program governance forums including risk, resource, and operational planning discussions, aligning quality strategy with broader business and execution objectives.
- Support configuration and release quality oversight, improving release readiness, execution transparency, and process discipline.
- Mentor newly onboarded teammates, accelerating effectiveness and reinforcing quality expectations, program knowledge, and operational execution discipline.
Radiologic Technologist
DELANEY RADIOLOGY
Wilmington, NC
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Maintained rigorous compliance, quality, and safety standards in a high-accountability operational environment.
- Executed precision-driven technical work requiring disciplined decision-making, procedural discipline, and stakeholder coordination.
- Provide strategic recommendations to leadership regarding process maturity, execution effectiveness, compliance posture, and risk reduction opportunities aligned with AS9100D and CMMI expectations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Allied Health – Exercise Science
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC05.2020
Associate of Applied Science - Radiography
Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, NC08.2022
Master’s - Engineering Management
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ06-2027
Skills
- Program Quality Leadership
- Program Execution & Operational Excellence
- Control Account Management (CAM)
- Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Strategic Process Improvement
- Executive Stakeholder Communication
- Audit Leadership
- Corrective Action / RCCA
- Risk & Opportunity Management
- Agile / SAFe Development Environments
- CMMI V20
- AS9100D
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- DCMA / Customer Engagement
- Configuration & Release Quality Oversight
- Continuous Improvement
Certification
- AS9100D Lead Auditor
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) Certification
- QA Engineering Certificate
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Active Secret Security Clearance
- Experience supporting complex defense software development programs
- Executive communication and leadership briefing experience
- Customer / government stakeholder engagement
- Strategic process improvement and operational excellence initiatives
- Mentorship and workforce development support
Timeline
Software Quality Engineer
LOCKHEED MARTIN
10.2023 - Current
Radiologic Technologist
DELANEY RADIOLOGY
08.2022 - 08.2023
Bachelor of Science - Allied Health – Exercise Science
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Associate of Applied Science - Radiography
Cape Fear Community College
Master’s - Engineering Management
Stevens Institute of Technology