Quality Lead

Job Title: Quality Lead

Reports To: Director of Quality, Environment Health and Safety

The Quality Lead is responsible for leading quality and continuous improvement activities across manufacturing operations and supply chain to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory (EASA/CAA), and aerospace industry (AS9100) requirements. The role provides technical and operational leadership for quality engineering, supplier quality, inspection activities, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and non-conformance management while driving a culture of quality excellence and customer satisfaction.

The Quality Lead acts as the primary point of contact for significant quality issues and works collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and customers to improve product quality, process capability, and business performance.

Quality Management & Compliance

• Lead activities associated with EASA/CAA Part 21G in accordance with AS9100 and customer requirements.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace regulatory, contractual, and statutory quality requirements.
• Maintain audit programs including customer, certification body, regulatory, and special process audits.
• Monitor quality performance and drive actions to address identified risks and opportunities.
• Support product safety, risk management, and configuration control activities.

Supply Chain Quality Leadership

• Drive resolution of supplier non-conformances through robust corrective action processes.
• Partner with Procurement and Supplier Development teams to improve supplier performance.
• Escalate significant supplier risks and quality concerns to management.
• Ensure effective containment and recovery plans are implemented for supplier-related escapes.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) & Process Improvement

• Lead the implementation and governance of SPC systems throughout manufacturing operations.
• Monitor and improve process capability through analysis of Cp, Cpk, Pp, and Ppk performance.
• Identify trends and risks through process and product quality data.
• Facilitate process capability studies and manufacturing process validations.
• Promote data-driven decision‑making using quality metrics and dashboards.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives.

Inspection & Verification Leadership

• Oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities.
• Ensure compliance with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Review and approve inspection plans, sampling strategies, and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gauge R&R activities are effectively implemented.
• Support calibration system compliance for all inspection and test equipment.
• Ensure inspection resources, competencies, and methods support customer requirements.

Non‑Conformance & Corrective Action Management

• Lead investigation and resolution of significant quality issues.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis using methodologies.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented and verified for effectiveness.
• Manage quality escapes, concessions, deviations, and customer complaints.
• Drive reduction in Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), scrap, rework, and customer returns.

Customer Quality Management

• Serve as a key customer‑facing representative for quality matters.
• Lead customer quality reviews, audits, and performance improvement activities.
• Coordinate responses to customer complaints and corrective action requests.
• Monitor customer scorecards and implement recovery plans where required.
• Ensure customer expectations are understood and deployed into operational processes.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide leadership and technical guidance to Quality Engineers, Inspectors and operations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, development, and performance management activities.
• Deliver quality‑related training and coaching across the organisation.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
• Foster cross‑functional collaboration between Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.

Education

• Degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management, or a related discipline.
• AS9100 Lead Auditor qualification preferred.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 5-8 years' experience within aerospace quality, manufacturing quality, or supplier quality functions.
• Experience leading quality teams and cross‑functional improvement projects.
• Demonstrated experience within AS9100-certified aerospace environments.
• Proven experience managing customer and supplier quality issues.
• Strong understanding of SPC, MSA, process capability, and advanced quality planning methodologies.

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of AS9100 aerospace quality requirements.
• Strong understanding of AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.

Working Knowledge Of

• AS13100
• APQP
• PPAP
• Product Safety requirements
• Human Factors
• Counterfeit Parts Prevention
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
• Experience using quality management systems, ERP systems, and digital quality tools.

Analytical Skills

• Advanced Root Cause Analysis capabilities.
• Data analysis and statistical problem-solving.
• Risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Process capability and trend analysis expertise.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability.
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
• Effective customer and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, and report‑writing abilities.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams through complex quality challenges.

Working Conditions

• Combination of office, manufacturing, and supplier‑facing environments.
• Frequent interaction with customers, regulatory authorities, and supply chain partners.
• Domestic and international travel as required.
• Participation in customer audits, supplier assessments, and business improvement projects.

Preferred Aerospace Industry Experience

• Civil aerospace manufacturing.
• Aero‑engine components and assemblies.
• Precision machining and special processes.
• Aerospace component manufacture and assemblies.
• OEM and Tier 1 aerospace supply chains.
• Experience supporting customers such as Airbus, Boeing, Rolls‑Royce, Safran.