Smart Quality Assurance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Langstone

Smart Quality Assurance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Langstone

Langstone Temporary 35000 - 45000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Portsmouth Water

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Improve smart metering reliability and enhance customer experience through problem-solving and collaboration.
  • Company: Join Portsmouth Water, a company dedicated to ensuring water availability for everyone.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, a generous pension, and performance bonuses.
  • Other info: Flexible working arrangements available; apply early to secure your chance!
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on water services while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: Understanding of water networks, strong communication skills, and problem management experience.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.

We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future. As a Smart Quality Assurance Analyst, you’ll play a key role in improving the reliability and performance of our Smart Metering Programme. You’ll focus on reducing recurring incidents by identifying root causes, coordinating investigations, and ensuring preventative actions are implemented, monitored and effective. Your work will directly strengthen service resilience and enhance the experience of our customers. You’ll work closely with the Smart Delivery Team, our supply chain partners (Arqiva and Cappagh), and colleagues across I.T, Customer Services and Networks to drive thorough root‑cause analysis and support timely remediation. This is a role for someone who enjoys problem‑solving, collaboration and making a measurable impact on programme performance.

What will you be doing?

  • Identify and log problems arising from smart meter failures, communication gaps, data quality anomalies, network blackspots, and billing‑impacting data defects.
  • Prioritise problems based on customer impact, revenue risk, leakage detection performance, regulatory obligations, and operational cost.
  • Lead and support investigations across the full end to end smart metering ecosystem.
  • Define temporary workarounds to minimise operational impact.
  • Support in the maintenance of the Known Error Database with clear guidance.
  • Raising persistent connectivity issues with Arqiva via their Service Desk portal.
  • Coordinating firmware upgrades with HES, vendors, and field teams (FLT and Configuration files).
  • Identifying meter batches with systemic defects for proactive replacement programmes (in support of the RMA process).
  • Ensuring meter lifecycle events (install, replace, remove) are synced accurately.
  • Track all remediation activity to completion, ensuring benefits are measurable (reduced no‑reads, lower field visits, improved billing accuracy).
  • Produce monthly Problem Management dashboards aligned to Smart Metering KPIs (Arqiva).
  • Facilitate technical working groups with support from the Smart Deployment Lead with our supply chain partners.
  • Escalate systemic issues or recurring supplier faults with evidence from RCA.
  • Support regulatory or audit information requests (e.g., meter accuracy, billing assurance).

What do you need?

  • Demonstrate an understanding of Water Networks and the end‑to‑end metering process (utility‑sector).
  • Competent user of MS Office suite/ Power B.I.
  • A good understanding of English and Maths.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • A proactive attitude to delivering excellent customer service.
  • Demonstratable experience in prior problem and incident management or transferable skills underpinning the above profile.

We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, and that’s why we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please feel free to talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may be looking for.

Please note, we may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications — so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society.

Please be aware, the Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Due to the high volume of applications we may receive, we’re unable to respond to every applicant individually. If your application is of interest, we’ll usually be in touch within 4 weeks of receiving it.

What can Portsmouth Water offer you?

  • Enjoy 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, giving you plenty of time to relax, recharge, and explore.
  • We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% – because your tomorrow matters as much as your today.
  • You could earn a non‑contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance – because when we succeed together, you should benefit too.
  • Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
  • All expenses covered summer and winter social events.
  • Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.
  • Whether you need confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, or physical health support via our Virtual GP service (available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family), help is always close at hand with the HealthHero app.
  • Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year).
  • Cycle to Work Scheme.
  • Health Cash Plan…and so much more!

Smart Quality Assurance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Langstone employer: Portsmouth Water

Join a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to ensuring sustainable water services for all. As an OT/Controls Engineer, you will thrive in a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and development, offering opportunities for training and mentorship. With a commitment to flexibility and inclusivity, this role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact on community health and safety but also supports your professional journey in a dynamic environment.

Portsmouth Water

Contact Details:

Portsmouth Water Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Smart Quality Assurance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Langstone

Get Hands-On with Temporary Projects

Temporary roles are all about flexibility and quick results. Look for short-term engineering projects or gigs that local companies might need help with. You can find these on job boards like Indeed or even niche platforms like PeoplePerHour. Don't be shy to reach out directly to firms—sometimes they have needs that aren't posted yet!

Tap into Engineering Meetups

Networking is key in engineering, especially for temporary positions. Check out local engineering meetups or hackathons relevant to your interests. Engaging with peers can lead to leads on temporary roles. Plus, it’s a sweet way to showcase your skills and passion in person—who knows who might be hiring at one of these events?

Leverage Your Connections

Let your friends and family know you're on the hunt for a temporary engineering role. Often, personal recommendations can get you in the door faster than any application. Share your goals and what you’re looking for through social media or casual conversations; you’d be surprised how many people might have the right connections!

Stay Sharp with Online Courses

While you're searching, keep those skills fresh! Take on some online courses related to your engineering field. Platforms like Coursera or edX can help you stay current and even get some certifications under your belt. This shows potential employers at Portsmouth Water that you’re committed to growth, making you a more appealing candidate for temporary roles.

We think you need these skills to ace Smart Quality Assurance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Langstone

Root Cause Analysis
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Data Quality Management
Incident Management
Knowledge of Water Networks
MS Office Suite Competency

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Versatile Engineering Skills:For a temporary engineering role like this one at Portsmouth Water, make sure to showcase a broad range of your engineering skills. Talk about different projects you’ve undertaken, focusing on your problem-solving ability and adaptability—key traits for temporary positions that depend on quick integration into teams.

Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a temporary role, clarity is essential. In your cover letter, be upfront about your availability and how soon you can start. Employers like Portsmouth Water want to know that you can hit the ground running, so don’t shy away from mentioning your flexibility!

Tailor Your CV to Showcase Relevant Experience:Make sure your CV is tailored to reflect the specific engineering projects relevant to the job. For instance, if you’ve worked on temporary contracts before or have engaged in diverse engineering processes, highlight these experiences to show how well-rounded you are.

Include References from Past Employers:Temporary positions often require trust and reliability. Adding references from previous employers can significantly boost your application. It shows that you have a strong work ethic and can adapt quickly, which is exactly what Portsmouth Water will be looking for.

How to prepare for a job interview at Portsmouth Water

Get to Grips with Your Technical Skills

Engineering roles often involve assessing your technical expertise, so be prepared to delve into your core skills. Brush up on relevant software and tools you’ve used before, as well as any engineering principles that relate to the position at Portsmouth Water. We want you to showcase your hands-on experience and problem-solving capabilities – it could be the difference between you and another candidate!

Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect to tackle some practical scenarios during the interview. Whether it's a design challenge or a troubleshooting test, Portsmouth Water might want to see how you approach real-world engineering problems. Think of specific examples from your past work where you had to think on your feet and be ready to walk your interviewers through your thought process.

Show Your Adaptability in Temporary Roles

Since this is a temporary position, it’s key to demonstrate your flexibility and ability to hit the ground running. Make sure to convey your eagerness to learn and adapt quickly to the team and the specific projects at Portsmouth Water. We all know that temporary roles can be a bit of a whirlwind, so emphasise your quick learning skills and your approach to managing change.

Highlight Relevant Portfolio Projects

If you've worked on engineering projects that align with the role at Portsmouth Water, make sure to bring them up! A portfolio can be a great way to illustrate your engineering prowess. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved – this will give the interviewers a tangible idea of what you bring to the table.