Supplier Quality Engineer in Luton

Seeking a Defence Supplier Quality Engineer full-time (37.5 hours per week) for 9 weeks near Milton Keynes, England. Flexible working options, including a 4-day week.

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Supplier Quality Engineer to support a range of projects across our customers' organisation for a 9 week period. The role will play a critical part in ensuring that quality standards are consistently met, maintained, and improved throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will act as a key point of contact for all quality-related matters, working closely with cross-functional teams including engineering, manufacturing, and project management. You will be responsible for identifying, managing, and resolving quality issues, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and external standards. This is a dynamic position requiring the ability to manage competing priorities, influence stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Job Responsibility

• Conduct QA activities during initial acquisition and programme execution in accordance with company processes and procedures.
• Provide independent oversight on assigned programmes to ensure compliance with all required external standards, internal command media and contractual requirements.
• Participate in bid and programme Gate Reviews to assist the teams in achieving mission success.
• Work with multiple teams to assure Supplier Quality, including supplier on-boarding activities and ongoing supplier performance management, and ensuring projects complete quarterly assessments of critical suppliers.
• Assist with the flow down of QA requirements to suppliers.
• Support Risk and Opportunity Management activities on bids and programmes.
• Support sub-contract management activities during programme execution.
• Develop and document any programme-specific processes required.
• Ensure customer deliverables are of acceptable quality and meet all required standards and contractual requirements.
• Liaise with customers and other third parties including suppliers regarding all aspects of Mission and Quality Assurance for assigned projects.
• Provide QA reports on a weekly and as-required basis, escalating significant issues or risks to the Programme Manager and the Mission Assurance Manager.
• Collect, interpret and present QA metrics to the Programme Manager, Mission Assurance Manager and the Technical Director to support the development of process improvement initiatives.
• Follow up audits to validate the resolution of non-conformities and findings raised.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Quality Assurance experience, ideally in a systems engineering environment.
• Experience of UK MOD assurance requirements and working practices.
• Track record of delivering to identified Quality Assurance requirements.
• Experience of leading quality improvement activities, including lessons learnt, root cause analysis.
• Experience of risk identification, reporting and management.
• A good understanding of systems engineering principles and methodologies.
• Sound working knowledge of Defence engineering standards and working practices.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and 27001.
• Self-motivated and able to work both autonomously and as part of a wider team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, suppliers and customers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient IT skills, specifically in MS Office tools.
• Flexible and responsive attitude.
• Proficient at multi-tasking, working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be a UK National (due to program security restrictions).
• Ideally holds UK Government Security Clearance.
• Ability to travel within the UK, to include visits to our customer location for progress meetings.
• This activity is inside IR35 (Umbrella Company Required).
• This role is inside IR35, and candidates will be required to work via an Umbrella Company.