Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Full-Time 40500 - 49500 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
GE Vernova

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead supplier quality initiatives and ensure compliance with industry standards.
  • Company: Join a leading engineering firm focused on quality and innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, 26 days holiday, and health insurance.
  • Other info: Opportunity to influence strategy and drive meaningful change in a dynamic environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on product quality in critical applications worldwide.
  • Qualifications: Degree in engineering or related field; experience in Supplier Quality or Manufacturing Engineering.

The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.

Our Quality Engineering team serves as the critical link between design, manufacturing, and customer delivery. We go beyond traditional inspection, embedding quality into every stage of the product lifecycle to build enduring confidence with customers and stakeholders. Through a proactive, prevention-focused mindset and data-driven decision-making, we strengthen capability, reduce risk, and deliver measurable operational and business improvements while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance.

As a Lead Supplier Quality Engineer, you will apply this philosophy to our global supply chain, ensuring that products and materials provided by our external partners consistently meet our rigorous standards. In this pivotal role, you will lead continuous improvement initiatives, maintain strict compliance with industry regulations, and act as a critical guardian of our technical integrity and operational performance.

Key responsibilities:
  • Supplier Onboarding & Qualification: Lead the qualification and onboarding process for new technical suppliers, ensuring they possess the specialized capabilities required for our niche, low-volume components.
  • Quality Planning (APQP/PPAP): Lead the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for suppliers, ensuring that quality requirements are robustly defined and met.
  • NPI & Process Maturity: Partner with NPI programs to ensure supplier readiness, verifying that manufacturing processes for complex, bespoke parts are stable and mature prior to production launch.
  • Audit & Process Oversight: Conduct rigorous onsite supplier audits for specialized manufacturing processes—including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) reviews—verifying compliance with QMS standards and driving continuous process alignment.
  • Strategic RCA & Problem Solving: Lead complex non-conformance investigations for bespoke parts, using 8D and other structured methodologies to drive systemic corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
  • Technical Supplier Development: Act as the onsite quality authority, collaborating with supplier engineering teams to identify process improvements, reduce variability, and stabilize production outputs.
  • Risk & Performance Management: Monitor supplier performance through data-driven reporting, identifying emerging risks in component quality and implementing proactive improvement plans.
Candidate Requirements:
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical discipline.
  • Experience: Proven expertise in Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Manufacturing Engineering within a highly regulated, complex engineering sector such as Aerospace, Defence, or Power Generation.
  • Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of QMS standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100) and essential quality tools (PPAP, FMEA, MSA, and SPC) used to manage complex/niche components.
  • Problem-Solving: Demonstrated success in leading root cause investigations and implementing permanent corrective actions in low-volume, high-complexity environments.
  • Communication: Exceptional ability to engage with technical experts, manage supplier relationships, and influence stakeholders across multiple functions.
  • Travel: Able to travel for domestic and international travel (primarily within Europe) to supplier meetings up to 50% of your time.
Desirable Qualifications:
  • Professional quality certification (e.g., ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt).
  • Specific experience with MoD or other defence-related quality requirements.
  • Previous experience in managing technical transfers or high-value NPI programs.
What We Offer:

At GE Vernova, we invest in your long-term success and wellbeing through a comprehensive, flexible benefits package designed to support what matters most to you. Our Total Reward offering includes competitive compensation, a performance-related bonus, flexible pension with a 10% employers’ contribution, employer-funded private health insurance, income protection, and life assurance. We support your time to recharge with 26 days of holiday, plus bank holidays. Our 'Flex Choice' programme allows you to take advantage of corporate benefits such as buying and selling holiday, a cycle-to-work scheme, financial planning, critical illness insurance, personal accident cover, dental cover, option to add family to a private health scheme, and travel insurance.

Why Join Us?

Join us at a pivotal time as we modernise our manufacturing capability and shape the future of quality across our Rugby operation. This is an opportunity to influence strategy, lead meaningful change, strengthen digital capability, and make a lasting impact on the performance, reliability, and integrity of products used in critical applications worldwide.

Lead Supplier Quality Engineer employer: GE Vernova

GE Vernova in Stafford is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among engineers. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to ongoing training and development opportunities, as well as the chance to work on cutting-edge HVDC projects that make a real impact globally. The supportive environment and emphasis on teamwork ensure that every employee can thrive while contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

GE Vernova

Contact Details:

GE Vernova Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Supplier Quality Management
Quality Assurance
Manufacturing Engineering
Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Root Cause Analysis (RCA)