SQA Engineer

Description

The company develops and manufactures lightweight, high-power electric propulsion systems and motors for aerospace markets, including eVTOL, unmanned aerial vehicles and general aviation.

It also builds bespoke, high-integrity battery systems for aerospace and defence customers.

The team is growing quickly and expects significant expansion over the next twelve to eighteen months.

The role makes sure suppliers are assessed, approved and managed against the company's and the customer's design intent, quality and process control requirements for production parts and services. You will also help build the supply chain procedures that handle supplier non-conformities and supplier quality risks.

Responsibilities

• Assess suppliers before approving and onboarding them, following the SQRM (Supplier Quality Requirements Manual) and applicable regulations, both in the UK and abroad.
• Write Supplier Quality Plans where needed to close gaps against the company's SQRM.
• Review and approve supplier APQP, PPAP and FAIR / LAIR submissions against international standards.
• Work with the Supply Chain team to select new and preferred suppliers that fit the commodity strategy for each product line.
• Roll out the SQRM to suppliers and oversee it on an ongoing basis.
• Support supplier development work aimed at improving quality, delivery and cost performance each year.
• Help build and refine robust processes for managing and developing suppliers.
• Set up and maintain supplier scorecards covering quality, delivery and commercial performance, and run improvement programmes when a supplier falls short of target.
• Help plan the supplier audit schedule, carry out supplier audits and manage the corrective action requests that follow.
• Manage supplier non-conformances promptly, covering containment, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventive actions.
• Serve as the main contact for supplier deviation requests.
• Support supplier work transfers when needed.
• Help implement and maintain systems and processes that keep the company compliant with its Business Management Systems.

Requirements

• Proven experience in aerospace or another tightly regulated supply chain quality role.
• Knowledge of CAA regulations Part21G and Part21J.
• Knowledge of AS9100 and process auditing. An AS9100 lead auditor qualification is preferred.
• Proven experience in a similar role, ideally in aerospace.
• Experience with quality improvement programmes and continuous improvement tools such as Pareto, PFMEA, 5S, Six Sigma or similar.
• Experience running external audits and writing audit reports to a high written standard.
• Hands-on use of APQP tools and techniques. Familiarity with AS9145 is preferred.
• Practical use of statistical analysis, process capability and problem-solving tools and methods such as 8D, 5 Why and Six Sigma.
• Experience in a Prime or Tier 1 environment is preferred.
• A positive team player who can work on their own initiative.
• Able to work under pressure, balance competing demands and meet tight deadlines.
• Able to work quickly across several projects at once.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel worldwide.

Conditions

Travel worldwide is required, and a full UK driving licence is needed.