Job Description:

Reference number: 51993

Job title:  Quality Engineer

Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 pa plus profit share and great benefits

Location: Runcorn

Duration: Permanent

Start date: ASAP

Are you an experienced quality professional with a passion for developing effective quality management systems, improving processes and driving continuous improvement?

We are seeking a Quality Engineer / QA Lead to take ownership of the quality management system for an innovative, advanced manufacturing business based in Runcorn. This is an excellent opportunity for a systems focused quality professional who can translate customer and industry requirements into practical, effective business processes.

Working closely with the Global Quality Manager and colleagues across the business, you will play a key role in strengthening quality assurance, managing risk and ensuring processes consistently deliver the required standards and business outcomes.

The organisation is a specialist manufacturer to a range of demanding industries, including aerospace, automotive, marine and defence, making quality, precision and continuous improvement central to its success.

As Quality Engineer / QA Lead, you will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the quality management system, ensuring that processes, controls and assurance activities are effective, proportionate and aligned with business objectives.

You will help embed a culture of quality across the organisation, focusing on process effectiveness, risk management and continual improvement rather than compliance alone.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS).

• Define and manage the system structure, process framework, standards and controls.

• Ensure customer, regulatory and relevant industry requirements are embedded into business processes, including ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100 and IATF 16949, as applicable.

• Manage the internal audit programme and support external audits.

• Lead document control and management system change activities.

• Analyse process performance data, identify trends and drive opportunities for improvement.

• Promote risk-based thinking and ensure appropriate, effective process controls are in place.

• Work collaboratively with HSE and IT teams to develop an integrated management system.

• Promote quality awareness and support the development of a strong quality culture throughout the business.

• Challenge existing processes constructively, identify systemic weaknesses and support root-cause problem-solving.

About You

You will be a proactive and analytical quality professional who understands how business processes interact and can develop practical systems that improve performance without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

You will also bring the confidence to influence stakeholders, challenge established ways of working and turn complex requirements into clear, workable processes.

Essential Skills and Experience

• A degree, HNC/HND or equivalent experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality or a related discipline.

• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001.

• Experience developing, implementing and improving management systems within a manufacturing environment.

• Practical experience of process mapping, risk assessment and process control.

• Internal auditor qualification.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence colleagues at all levels.

• A pragmatic, commercially aware approach, with a focus on process effectiveness and business performance.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge or experience of AS9100 and/or IATF 16949.

• Lead auditor qualification.

• Practical understanding of automotive core tools, including APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA and PPAP.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £50,000 – £55,000, dependent on experience.

• Company pension with a 3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution, increasing to a 4% employer contribution after five years.

• Profit share scheme.

• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.

• Subsidised, freshly prepared breakfast and lunch from an on-site chef.

• Employee Assistance Programme and access to a GP.

• Employee rewards platform.

• Health checks.

• A range of employee wellbeing activities, including social events, competitions and nature walks.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in the development of a quality management system within a specialist manufacturing environment where technical excellence, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement are key priorities.

You will have the opportunity to influence how quality is managed across the business, improve the effectiveness of existing processes and work collaboratively with colleagues to support long-term business performance.

If you are a quality professional who enjoys improving systems, solving problems and making a tangible difference, we would welcome your application.

To apply for the Quality Engineer / QA Lead role please click apply now.