Quality Engineer

Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing

Shape the Future of Quality

Are you an experienced Aerospace Quality Engineer ready to take ownership of an entire quality function?

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing advanced manufacturing business operating within the aerospace and defence sectors. As the organisation’s senior quality professional, you will play a key role in driving compliance, improving manufacturing performance, and embedding a culture of quality throughout the business.

This position offers the rare chance to start as a standalone quality expert whilst building the foundations for a future Quality Department that you will have the opportunity to develop and lead.

 

The Opportunity

As a Quality Engineer, you will take full responsibility for the Quality Management System and ensure compliance with aerospace industry standards.

Working closely with manufacturing, engineering, customers and suppliers, you will lead all quality activities across the business while driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance capability, performance and compliance.

As the business continues to grow, you will help define the future quality strategy and build a dedicated team to support ongoing expansion.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership

• Act as the site’s lead quality professional and aerospace quality subject matter expert.
• Champion a proactive quality culture across all business functions.
• Support strategic business growth through robust quality planning and compliance.

Quality Management Systems

• Maintain and develop the Quality Management System.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with AS9100 and ISO9001 requirements.
• Manage quality documentation, procedures and process controls.

Auditing & Compliance

• Lead customer, supplier and certification audits.
• Manage audit preparation, corrective actions and continuous compliance activities.
• Ensure products consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Product & Process Quality

• Oversee product inspection, validation and release activities.
• Manage First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) in line with AS9102 requirements.
• Develop inspection plans and quality control methodologies.
• Interpret engineering drawings and GD&T requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead non-conformance investigations and root cause analysis.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Drive process improvements across manufacturing, inspection and operational functions.

Supply Chain & Project Support

• Support supplier quality management activities.
• Drive quality improvements throughout the supply chain.
• Provide quality leadership for product transfers and international manufacturing projects.

Future Team Development

• Identify future quality resource requirements.
• Support the recruitment, development and leadership of a dedicated quality team.

About You

Essential Experience

• Experience as a Quality Engineer, Senior Quality Engineer or Quality Manager within the aerospace sector.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100, ISO9001 and aerospace quality requirements.
• Experience managing Quality Management Systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on inspection experience with strong engineering drawing interpretation skills.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, AS9102 and FAIR documentation.
• Experience leading internal, customer and third-party audits.
• Strong problem-solving skills with experience in root cause analysis and CAPA activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.