Lead Quality Engineer Complex Systems
Clearance Level
SC
Salary Range
£60,000 - 70,000
Employment Type
FULL TIME
Work Style
onsite
// Role Summary
Lead the Quality team and drive quality performance across Complex Systems defence programmes, ensuring products and processes meet stringent customer and regulatory requirements.
// Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute quality strategy for Defence programmes.
- Lead, coach, and develop a Quality team.
- Own end-to-end Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities.
- Ensure compliance with quality processes and manage audits.
- Lead non-conformance investigations and root cause analysis.
- Act as the primary customer interface for quality matters.
// Role Specification
About the Role
The Lead Quality Engineer is responsible for delivering quality performance across Complex Systems programmes, ensuring products and processes meet customer, regulatory, and business requirements. The role leads the Quality team, drives continuous improvement, ensures compliance with quality management systems, and supports the achievement of programme and operational objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute the quality strategy across a portfolio of Defence programmes.
- Align quality objectives with business KPIs, including yield, cost of quality, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Quality team to meet programme and business requirements.
- Provide accurate reporting of quality performance, programme risks, and improvement activities.
- Own end-to-end Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities throughout the product lifecycle.
- Ensure compliance with quality processes, procedures, and command media.
- Develop and manage the internal audit schedule, ensuring timely completion of audits and closure of corrective actions.
- Lead non-conformance investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action activities.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and ensure quality requirements are embedded throughout programme execution.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect reduction, process capability, and operational excellence.
- Act as the primary interface for customer quality matters, audits, and quality reviews.
Required skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years' experience within a Defence, Aerospace, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment.
- Previous leadership or management experience within a Quality function.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to lead teams and deliver against quality and business KPIs.
- Experience managing quality activities across complex projects or manufacturing programmes.
- Strong understanding of: Quality Management Plans (QMPs), PFMEA, Control Plans, FAIR / AS9102, Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), Internal and external auditing.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
Desirable
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
- Certified Internal Auditor.
- SAP QM or equivalent ERP experience.
- Supplier Quality Management experience.
- Experience using digital or AI-enabled quality tools.
- Working knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems.