Product Assurance Manager in Oxford

We are working with an innovative space technology business to find a Product Assurance Manager based in Oxfordshire. The salary ranges from the mid-£40,000s to mid-£50,000s, depending on skills and experience. This is a role with real ownership. You’ll run Product Assurance across multiple projects, chair the boards and gate reviews, and be the main PA contact for customers on high-reliability flight hardware. Benefits * Mid-£40ks to mid-£50ks, depending on skills and experience * Work on flight hardware in a highly regulated sector * Ownership of PA across multiple projects, from design review through to delivery * A growing technology business where PA has a real voice Product Assurance Manager Responsibilities * Own the non-conformance review (NCR) process, driving identification, correction and prevention of non-conformances * Chair PA boards and gate reviews, including design, assembly, test and readiness reviews * Manage project configuration: approving changes and producing as-designed/as-built configuration lists * Own project PA documentation, including PA plans, Declared Lists, Requests for Waiver/Deviation and CoCs * Perform or approve project and product inspections: incoming inspection, key and mandatory inspection points, and final inspection * Monitor and support production, reviewing manufacturing, assembly, integration and test procedures and observing on-site activities * Act as main point of contact with the customer’s PA function, attending and supporting customer project meetings * Advise project teams on PA best practice and make sure they follow the project PA plan and QMS processes * Ensure project deliverables are in line with the project PA plan * Deliver training on Product Assurance methods and procedures where appropriate * Develop the supply chain through supplier audits and inspections * Provide PA input to new bids with the business development team * Drive continuous improvement of the QMS, conduct internal audits, and track and share quality KPIs * Flexibility on hours when schedules need it, such as the occasional long day or weekend Product Assurance Manager Requirements * Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant subject, or HNC with relevant practical experience * Product or Quality Assurance experience, ideally in space or aerospace, or another highly regulated sector * Working knowledge of ECSS (or equivalent) and lean commercial PA/QA approaches * Good understanding of the mechanical, thermal and radiation tolerance properties of materials and how they apply in practice * Strong root cause analysis skills and a pragmatic, logical approach to problem solving * Clear technical communication and presentation skills, with ownership from issue to resolution * Detail-oriented, able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines * Desirable: internal auditor experience and/or ISO 9001 * Desirable: experience delivering projects against ECSS and MIL standards * Desirable: hands-on experience in mechanical or RF engineering or production * Desirable: configuration management knowledge * Desirable: advanced Excel (functions, pivot tables, macros, charts) and MS Visio Applicants must have the right to work in the UK