At a Glance
- Tasks: Support manufacturing operations in melting, alloying, and casting of precious metals.
- Company: Cooksongold, a leading name in the jewellery industry since 1918.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a friendly team in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter with great career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in quality engineering within a dynamic and growing company.
- Qualifications: Degree in Metallurgy or related field; experience in metal manufacturing preferred.
Metallurgical and Process Quality Engineer
Birmingham
The Company
We are Cooksongold, and we’ve been proudly supporting jewellers since 1918, with everything from precious metals to jewellery tools. We are part of HM Precious Metals, one of Europe's largest refiners and processors of precious metals. Based in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, we are a friendly, well-established and growing business of over 250 employees. We are highly rated by our customers – we were awarded a Feefo Trusted Platinum Service Award for 2024 as a result of our excellent customer feedback ratings.
As our Metallurgical and Process Quality Engineer, you will play a vital, practical role supporting manufacturing operations, with particular focus on melting, alloying, casting and downstream processing of precious metal alloys. You will investigate product and process issues, establish root causes, and support effective corrective and preventive actions to ensure products meet internal, customer and regulatory requirements. This is an ideal position for someone who enjoys working directly with production teams and applying metallurgical knowledge on the shop floor to improve quality, consistency and yield.
Key Responsibilities
As our new Metallurgy & Quality Process Engineer, you will:
- Provide day-to-day metallurgical and process quality support to melting, alloying, casting and subsequent processing operations.
- Work routinely on the shop floor with operators, supervisors and production teams to investigate recurring or complex manufacturing issues.
- Assess how alloy composition, melting and casting conditions, heat treatment, rolling, annealing, drawing and finishing affect product quality and process variation.
- Investigate customer enquiries, internal non-conformances and process issues, including cracking, porosity, inclusions, contamination, impurities, grain structure abnormalities, surface defects and mechanical failures.
- Perform and interpret metallurgical and validation testing, including metallographic sample preparation, optical microscopy, etching, porosity and grain structure assessment, hardness and tensile testing, and surface roughness measurement.
- Apply structured root cause analysis to distinguish between material, process, equipment and operational causes, and take ownership of investigations through corrective action and verification.
- Review alloy and product specifications, manufacturing processes and process parameters against internal, customer, regulatory and relevant standard requirements.
- Support CAPA, non-conformance and customer complaint investigations, as well as internal and external audits requiring metallurgical or process quality expertise.
- Analyse quality and production data, support manufacturing trials and process improvements, and document technical findings and recommendations clearly for Production, Quality, R&D and customers.
About you
- A degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Materials Engineering or a related field (Desirable)
- Strong knowledge of physical metallurgy and the relationship between composition, microstructure, processing and material properties.
- Demonstrable experience applying metallurgical knowledge in a metal manufacturing environment, including melting, alloying, solidification and casting, with an understanding of rolling, annealing, drawing, forming, heat treatment and finishing.
- Practical experience in metallurgical testing, material analysis and failure investigation, including optical microscopy, etching, hardness and tensile testing, and metallographic sample preparation.
- The ability to interpret alloy specifications and test results against customer and standard requirements and translate technical findings into practical manufacturing solutions.
- The confidence to work closely with operators, supervisors and production management, with clear technical reporting and communication skills.
- A practical, accountable and collaborative approach, with the ability to manage multiple investigations and changing production priorities.
- Experience in precious metals, jewellery manufacturing, non-ferrous metals or foundry operations, and knowledge of gold, silver, platinum and palladium alloys would be advantageous.
Benefits
We offer a well-balanced working environment with a competitive salary package and excellent benefits which support employees at every stage of their career.
Join us as we continue to grow and set new standards for the jewellery industry!
Our Job Applicant Privacy Notice can be viewed on our website.
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Metallurgical and Process Quality Engineer in Birmingham employer: Cooksongold
Cooksongold is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of Birmingham's luxury retail scene. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills while enjoying generous benefits like paid leave and a pension scheme, all within a supportive environment that values professional service and client satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Metallurgical and Process Quality Engineer in Birmingham
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Metallurgical and Process Quality Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Cooksongold specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cooksongold
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Cooksongold, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Cooksongold value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
