Quality Inspector in Huddersfield

Quality Inspector
Location: West Yorkshire
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Employment: Permanent, full-time

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Quality Inspector to join an established engineering and manufacturing business operating within the defence sector.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary Quality team, you will play an important role in ensuring that manufactured components and products meet stringent engineering specifications, quality standards and customer requirements.

This is a hands-on inspection role involving complex, high-tolerance mechanical components at various stages of the manufacturing process.

You will work closely with colleagues across Quality, Engineering, Operations and Supply Chain, helping to maintain product conformity and drive high standards of quality throughout the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out inspections of purchased components and in-house manufacturing operations, ensuring compliance with engineering drawings, technical specifications and applicable standards.
• Perform dimensional inspections at goods-inwards, during production and at final inspection stages.
• Use conventional measuring equipment, including micrometers, Vernier callipers and height gauges.
• Operate Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), CNC gear testers, measuring arms, laser trackers and 3D scanners to verify component dimensions.
• Undertake material hardness testing using Vickers, Rockwell and Brinell methods.
• Carry out paint and coating inspections, including visual assessments and Dry Film Thickness (DFT) measurements.
• Conduct Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) activities, including Visual Inspection (VI), Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) and Ultrasonic Testing (UT).
• Inspect forgings, machined components and weldments, identifying and documenting potential defects.
• Review material certifications, NDT reports, dimensional inspection reports and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs).
• Produce accurate inspection reports, detailing findings, defects and recommendations for corrective action.
• Raise and manage non-conformance reports in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure measuring equipment is maintained and calibrated in line with internal requirements.
• Support investigations and problem-solving activities relating to machining, welding, heat treatment and metallurgical processes.
• Work collaboratively with Quality, Engineering, Production and Supply Chain teams to resolve quality issues and maintain product compliance.

Essential Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate

• NVQ Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering or a similar engineering qualification.
• Previous experience in a Quality Inspection, Mechanical Inspection, Metrology, Manufacturing or NDT-related position.
• Strong experience interpreting detailed mechanical engineering drawings and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience inspecting complex, high-tolerance mechanical components.
• Proficiency using conventional measuring equipment, including micrometers, Vernier callipers and height gauges.
• Experience operating CMM equipment, CNC gear testers, measuring arms, laser trackers or 3D scanning equipment.
• Knowledge of dimensional measurement techniques and inspection methodologies.
• Experience undertaking hardness testing and preparing detailed inspection reports.
• Understanding of quality management systems, particularly ISO 9001:2015.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify, investigate and report defects accurately.
• Desirable Qualifications & Experience

The following would be advantageous but are not essential

• Metrology or inspection qualifications, including NPL.
• PCN Level 2 qualifications in Visual Inspection, Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) or Ultrasonic Testing (UT).
• CSWIP 3.1 welding inspection qualification.
• Experience with Nital Etch or Barkhausen Noise inspection.
• Experience with radiographic interpretation.
• ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor training.
• Experience inspecting gears, shafts, bearings, gearcases, gearboxes, forgings, castings and fabricated components.
• Previous experience within heavy engineering, precision manufacturing, aerospace, defence, marine or other highly regulated industries.
• Manual handling and lifting and slinging experience.
• The Ideal Candidate

You will be a meticulous and technically minded Quality Inspector who takes pride in maintaining exceptional standards of workmanship and product quality.

You will be comfortable working in a busy manufacturing environment, confident interpreting engineering specifications and capable of making accurate, evidence-based inspection assessments.

Strong communication skills are essential, alongside the ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues across multiple engineering disciplines.

Additional Information

37-hour working week, Monday to Friday.

Permanent, full-time opportunity.

Product-specific training and on-the-job development will be provided.

The position operates within a defence environment and is subject to relevant security and export control restrictions.

Security and Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be able to satisfy the relevant security clearance and export control requirements associated with the position.

Factors including nationality, previous nationalities and place of birth may affect eligibility for certain roles.