New Product Introduction Quality Assurance Engineer

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality Assurance Engineer to join the Product Assurance team as they provide professional quality support to the Manufacturing team in the UK across all NPI Programs.

Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: Minimum 3 days per week on-site, due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave - enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more
• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more

The Opportunity:

You will provide an independent visibility and assurance that manufacturing and related processes are correctly applied across all NPI Programs. You will provide support and advice on all aspects of quality within New Product Introduction. You will provide support in the identification and implementation of sustainable process improvements to existing methods and processes. You will support Manufacturing in the identification and reduction of project risk or problem areas/issues associated with process application, process effectiveness or compliance across all NPI programs.

Reporting to the Product Assurance Manager, responsibilities include the following activities:

• Provision of professional support and advice on all aspects of quality within NPI Manufacturing UK; apply quality expertise to critical business issues to support business excellence, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
• Provision of quality assurance assistance to NPI Manufacturing UK in support of manufacturing excellence including development and delivery of quality awareness and other process and quality-related training.
• Supporting Manufacturing UK on all NPI programmes to achieve cost, time and quality targets. Assessing and controlling the product assurance quality processes and the resulting outputs.
• Assuring to and implemented in Company production programmes, and providing the appropriate level of support to improve the effectivity of processes used by the Company Business Management System is correctly tailored within NPI.
• Confirm through a programme of Independent assessments and audits that processes and quality requirements are being successfully implemented, applied, and improved. Provide reports to Management that identifies the outcome of audits and issues. Monitor and facilitate the progression of any improvements from audit activities and the timely closure of identified issues.
• Maintaining strong links with Quality Assurance colleagues across MBDA (UK and Overseas) to enable the dissemination and achievement of Quality Objectives within NPI Manufacturing UK.
• Work with Product Assurance Managers and other functions to define appropriate risk reduction strategies/action plans.
• Provide advice and help in the use of SAP as the non-conformance management tool and identify SAP improvement with respect to the Quality Module.
• Facilitation and/or support to various levels of Non-Conformance Review Panels.
• Analysis of non-conformance defect data and acting on this data to undertake problem solving investigations identifying defect root cause and corrective action implementation.
• Assure compliance to the company BMS requirements within NPI manufacturing.
• Support DFMEAs giving a manufacturing perspective, driving producibility.
• Facilitate PFMEAs for NPI products, ensuring they are suitably reviewed and kept topical throughout the NPI process.
• Assuring early adoption and compliance to the Industrial Validation BMS.
• Supporting lessons learnt activities and facilitating the outcomes of these into future programs of work.
• Support the creation and update of Manufacturing Proposals by providing appropriate data and lesson learnt. Ensuring these are then appropriately captured within the Manufacturing Requirements.
• Support and provide appropriate input to Design and PG Reviews.

What are the benefits for you?

Working in a high technology environment ranging from the manufacture of CCA assemblies through to live build of weapon systems, your broad range of skill and expertise will be called upon to support quality and process improvement initiatives as we drive to maintain our reputation as a leading manufacturer of guided weapon systems. Become a member of a well-established and value added team within a world leading Defence business, directly supporting the delivery of assured, complex weapons systems to both internal and external customers. Opportunities to develop personal, profession and behavioural skills to enable future further progression with the function and business.

What we're looking for from you:

• Ideally qualified to minimum HNC/HND in relevant subject.
• Quality professional, experienced in process-based integrated management systems & business improvement in an engineering/manufacturing environment.
• Experience using both risk management and practical problem solving tools e.g. 8D, 5Y, PFMEA etc.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages (PowerPoint, Word and Excel).
• Quality Auditing experience required.
• Knowledge and experience of EN/AS9100.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good planning and organising skills to ensure multiple tasks are prioritised and monitored to deliver set objectives.
• Capability to identify sustainable business improvements & ensure effective implementation.
• Recognise and understand internal and external customer requirements, and respond to them.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively at all levels of the organisation.
• Highly self-motivated and demonstrate a determination and persistence to deliver results despite obstacles and setbacks.
• Recognise and understand regulatory and certification requirements, and respond to them.
• Understanding of AS9145 APQP/PPAP - Desirable.
• Understanding of AS9102 - First Article Inspection Requirements.

Position is based in Stevenage, but will require regular support to Manufacturing at other MBDA sites, including Bolton and Henlow. Travel (both UK and international) will be required.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given. MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more. We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.