At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality improvements and audits in a dynamic design and manufacturing environment.
- Company: Innovative design and manufacturing business in Horsham, West Sussex.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience in quality engineering on a 6-month contract.
- Other info: Opportunity for hands-on professionals to drive organisational improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing quality processes and mentoring others.
- Qualifications: Experience in quality management systems and strong problem-solving skills required.
We are seeking an experienced Quality Engineer for a six-month contract supporting a design, development and manufacturing business.
Reporting to the Head of Quality, you will act as the quality subject matter expert for designated programmes and business areas. You will provide technical leadership, strengthen the Business Management System (BMS), lead audits and investigations, and drive practical improvements in quality performance.
This opportunity would suit a hands-on quality professional who can combine robust governance with effective problem-solving, influence stakeholders across functions and support engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the governance, development and continual improvement of the BMS, ensuring processes, procedures, work instructions and controls remain effective and compliant with BS EN ISO 9001, applicable regulations and customer requirements.
- Provide expert guidance on quality-management principles, processes and best practice across the business.
- Lead the internal audit programme, analyse findings and trends, identify systemic risks and drive effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Lead complex investigations into product, process, system, customer-return and field-related non-conformances, ensuring thorough root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective action.
- Provide independent quality assurance at design reviews, programme reviews and lifecycle gate reviews.
- Review customer contracts, specifications and bid documentation to identify and interpret quality requirements.
- Support customers with quality matters and issue resolution, and assist with external audits, regulatory interactions and compliance activities.
- Mentor and coach Quality Engineers and wider business stakeholders, supporting technical development and a culture of quality excellence.
- Support the development of quality objectives, strategy and improvement roadmaps aligned with business priorities.
- Present clear findings, risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Proven experience developing, implementing and improving quality-management systems within a design, development and manufacturing environment.
- Extensive experience managing audit programmes and conducting internal, customer, supplier and third-party audits.
- HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in an engineering-related discipline, supported by relevant quality-engineering and management experience.
- Strong practical knowledge of structured problem-solving techniques, including 8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa, root-cause analysis and risk-based thinking.
- Demonstrable leadership and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive organisational improvement.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with experience engaging customers, suppliers, senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
Desirable Experience
- Background in defence, aerospace or another highly regulated electromechanical manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of AQAP 2110, AQAP 2210, AS9100, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001, alongside ISO 9001.
- Experience in Design Assurance, Product Assurance or Quality Assurance leadership.
- CQI membership, Chartered Quality Professional status, IRCA Registered Auditor qualification or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Experience leading teams, mentoring technical professionals and delivering cross-functional improvement programmes.
- Good health and safety awareness, ideally supported by an IOSH qualification.
If you are an experienced quality professional who can bring technical leadership, strengthen governance and deliver measurable improvements during a six-month assignment, please submit your CV for consideration.
Quality Engineer - 6month Contract in Holbrook employer: Holt Executive
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