At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure top-notch quality for new products and supplier parts in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Ricardo, a leader in niche powertrain products with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, health support, and a culture that prioritises wellbeing.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we value every individual's potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the automotive industry while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Supplier Quality Assurance or similar roles, preferably in automotive.
The successful candidate will be rewarded with the opportunity to be a key member of a team with a broad remit to support the quality of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Series Production across projects within the Performance Products division of Ricardo. This division specializes in delivering niche powertrain products to many premium brand customers.
The Senior Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer will be responsible for the quality of purchase parts, from concept to series production for the suppliers and projects they are assigned. Working alone or as part of a team, traveling in the UK and overseas, their key objectives will include (but are not limited to):
- Forming healthy relationships to promote responsiveness and influence in the supply chain and internally at Ricardo
- Auditing suppliers and contributing to the nomination process
- Supplier Quality Assurance activities within the supply chain including: APQP, PPAP, supplier assessment audits, product and process audits and surveillance visits
- Supporting both production and new product introduction
- Problem resolution of parts quality issues working with suppliers using 8D and other automotive industry tools
- Creating and managing customer quality requirements that can be cascaded to the supply chain
- Generating goods receiving inspection documents for pre-production and production phases
- Series process and part approval at product launch
- Working closely with procurement, design and system engineers to achieve parts that are cost effective, fit for purpose and to the required quality standard
- Management of supplier quality performance, including verification and implementation of corrective actions
- Analyse supplier performance data and develop improvement plans
- Monitor and analyse supplier performance data to identify improvement opportunities
- Managing the parts quality implications of product and process changes
- Reporting status against project targets internally and customer facing
- Actively participating in continuous improvement by developing and introducing new quality focussed processes and procedures to Ricardo
- Complying with internal processes and procedures aligned to IATF 16949 requirements
- Supporting and attending production and NPI meetings
This role involves regular travel to suppliers domestically and internationally.
Relevant Experience and Personal Attributes:
- Experience of NPI and/or Supplier Quality Assurance or a similar role where skills can be transferred into the objectives described above. Preferably gained within the automotive sector but other industries would be considered.
- Achieving PPAP
- Experience with various manufacturing processes and components (e.g. casting, machining, moulding, assembly, fabrication) and measurement techniques
- Experience and understanding of geometric design & tolerance
- Experience of quality systems, quality tools & techniques
- Experience in using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Engineering degree or equivalent experience
- Ability to work as a team or on your own and be self‑motivated
- A good communicator with intercultural and interpersonal skills together with the ability to communicate and present effectively to suppliers and clients at all levels
- Excellent problem‑solving skills, using 8D process and other automotive industry tools
- Tenacity, resilience and focus
- Attention to detail and strong analytical decision‑making skills
- Ownership mindset, taking responsibility for outcomes and being empowered to make the decisions that will lead to those outcomes
Preferred:
- Knowledge of automotive technology and product development
- Lead Auditor trained to ISO 9001 and or IATF 16949
- Knowledge of IATF 16949 and APQP
- Hands‑on experience of lean manufacturing & six sigma
Benefits:
Your remuneration and benefits package will reflect that. You will receive a range of benefits which include support for your physical and mental health. We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. Wellbeing is at the core of our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion statement:
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro‑actively with all our employees and to ensure an inclusive culture, we are recognized as a 'disability confident' employer. Ricardo is a Disability confident employer. Please advise the recruitment team via recruit@ricardo.com if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.
Senior SQA Engineer in Shoreham-by-Sea employer: Ricardo Deutschland GmbH
Ricardo is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth, offering a flexible work environment that supports both remote and hybrid arrangements. With a strong commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion, employees are encouraged to thrive in a culture that values innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the automotive sector.
