Quality Engineering Lead
// Role Summary
Drive quality excellence as a Quality Engineering Lead, developing and implementing robust quality processes throughout the product lifecycle in a defence manufacturing environment.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead Quality Engineering for New Product Introduction (NPI).
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Quality Engineers.
- Manage quality command media and non-conformance processes.
- Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions (CAPA).
- Collaborate cross-functionally to establish quality controls.
- Monitor quality performance and champion continuous improvement.
// Role Specification
About the Role
The Quality Engineering Lead is responsible for driving quality excellence across the organisation by developing, implementing, and improving quality engineering processes, systems, and standards throughout the product lifecycle. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Programme teams, the role ensures that robust quality controls are established and maintained to deliver products that meet customer, regulatory, and business requirements.
As the technical lead for Quality Engineering activities, the role provides guidance and mentorship to Quality Engineers, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures effective deployment of quality tools and methodologies to support operational and programme success.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Quality Engineering aspects of the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, ensuring quality requirements are embedded from design through to production.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Quality Engineers across multiple business areas, promoting best practice and consistency.
- Own and maintain Quality Engineering command media, including non-conformance management processes, control plans, quarantine procedures, and associated documentation.
- Ensure quality processes, procedures, and standards are regularly reviewed, updated, and effectively deployed across the business.
- Act as the focal point for Quality Engineering corrective actions arising from audits, reviews, customer feedback, and quality performance metrics.
- Lead root cause investigations and facilitate the implementation of effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to establish quality requirements, controls, and verification activities throughout the product lifecycle.
- Monitor quality performance data and identify opportunities for process improvement, risk reduction, and defect prevention.
- Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits, ensuring findings are addressed and quality system compliance is maintained.
- Drive Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality and customer satisfaction.
- Identify competency gaps within the Quality Engineering team and support the development and delivery of training and coaching activities.
- Promote a culture of quality excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organisation.
Required skills, qualifications and experience
Essential
- Significant experience in a Quality Engineering role within a manufacturing, aerospace, defence, or other highly regulated environment.
- Strong understanding of quality management systems, quality assurance methodologies, and problem-solving techniques.
- Proven experience leading quality investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action activities.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and product lifecycle quality activities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage across multiple functions.
- Highly process-driven with strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
- Experience developing, maintaining, and improving quality processes and documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives and deliver measurable business benefits.
Desirable
- Experience within the Defence or Aerospace sector.
- Knowledge of SAP or equivalent ERP systems.
- Lean Practitioner, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, or equivalent Continuous Improvement certification.
- Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor qualification.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.