Senior Supplier Quality Manager in Bristol

Our Mission At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take‑off and landing), "zero emissions" aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky. We won’t realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to "redefine" aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner‑level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What To Expect This is a rare opportunity to shape, build, and scale a world‑class supply quality ecosystem from the ground up. As Senior Supplier Quality Manager, you will be a key architect of our supply network. Defining how we work with suppliers, setting the standards that underpin excellent performance, and embedding robust, scalable processes that enable rapid growth and innovation. You won’t just be managing quality; you’ll be designing the ways of working, influencing strategy, and partnering with suppliers to create a high‑performing, resilient, and future‑ready supply chain. You will report directly into our VP of Procurement & Supply Chain and functionally to the Director of Quality. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will both execute supplier quality activities and help define the systems, standards and ways of working that will support Vertical’s transition from development into production and service.

What You’ll Do

• Design and deploy supplier quality strategy aligned to business growth, certification, and industrialisation goals.
• Build and continuously improve supplier quality processes, governance, and standards, performance management, and risk mitigation.
• Develop world‑class ways of working with suppliers, engineering, operations, and procurement.
• Lead supplier quality development activities, coaching and challenging suppliers to raise capability, maturity, and performance across the network.
• Own supplier quality performance management, driving clear metrics, data‑led insights, and structured continuous improvement.
• Be a visible quality leader, influencing senior stakeholders internally and externally, and acting as a trusted partner to critical suppliers.
• Anticipate and manage risk, embedding proactive quality planning and early issue detection across the supply base.
• Scale for the future, ensuring processes, tools, and governance evolve with the organisation as production ramps and complexity increases.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree (engineering or similar) preferred; substantial relevant experience will also be considered.
• Extensive experience in supplier quality within aerospace (ideally ~10 years), with strong knowledge of aerospace regulations and standards (e.g. AS9100, AS9120, 13100, Part 21).
• Background in a regulated environment (e.g. aerospace, defence, automotive), including practical use of APQP, PPAP, FMEA and other core quality planning tools.
• Experience of quality management systems (ISO 9001, AS9100 and related aerospace quality frameworks); lead auditor accreditation to AS9100 is an advantage.
• Demonstrated track record of on‑site supplier audits, assessments and surveillance activities, including hands‑on supplier development and coaching where maturity is lower.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with practical use of tools such as PFMEA, 8D, 5 Whys and process mapping, including direct leadership of containment and corrective action at suppliers.
• Experience of new product introduction / industrialisation with external suppliers, ideally including transferring parts between suppliers and de‑risking ramp‑up.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications; familiarity with manufacturing environments (e.g. machining, assembly, batteries or electronics) is highly beneficial.
• Proven experience leading or mentoring others, with the capability to build and shape a growing supplier quality function while remaining hands‑on.
• Effective communicator, able to influence and challenge suppliers and internal stakeholders, with clear, data‑driven reporting and presentation skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, changing environment, creating and improving processes rather than simply following established ones.
• Self‑motivated, collaborative and willing to travel (circa 25%+ globally, predominantly trips to European suppliers, some further travel to Asia and/or America).

What can you expect from us? We’re on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn’t your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career. Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we’re going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our Benefits

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday.
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell).
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership.
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits.
• Award‑winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand).
• Company performance based bonus – rewarding company and individual performance.
• Company Share Scheme – open to every Vertical employee.
• Company Pension Scheme – 5% and we match it.
• Breakfast on us, every day.

We may just be the hardest job you’ve ever had, but we’re confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.