QA Engineer

Are you an experienced Quality Assurance professional looking to join one of the UK's leading defence engineering organisations?

We're recruiting for a QA Engineer to support complex defence manufacturing programmes based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a fast-paced, highly regulated engineering environment, helping to ensure products meet the highest quality and compliance standards throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.

You'll play a key role in driving quality assurance activities across manufacturing and engineering teams, supporting continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring robust non-conformance management processes are in place.

The Role

As a QA Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Generating control plans from engineering drawings for manufactured parts and assemblies.
• Managing the non-conformance process from containment and quarantine through to effective Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA).
• Participating in design and drawing reviews to ensure quality requirements are captured early in the product lifecycle.
• Supporting manufacturing teams to maintain compliance within an AS9100-regulated environment.
• Driving quality problem-solving activities and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working collaboratively with engineering, manufacturing and programme teams to resolve quality-related issues.
• Ensuring quality documentation and processes are maintained in line with company and industry standards.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong understanding of Quality Assurance principles and best practices.
• Experience working within an AS9100-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience managing non-conformance and RCCA activities.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience developing and maintaining Control Plans.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organisational and communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience within the Defence or Aerospace manufacturing sectors.
• Knowledge of AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• SAP experience or familiarity with ERP systems.
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Engineering, Manufacturing or Quality-related qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent).

Working Arrangements

• Primarily on-site, working four days per week in Ampthill.
• Limited hybrid working may be available depending on business requirements.
• Flexible 4-day working week (Monday to Thursday).

Security Requirements

• Candidates must be eligible to obtain Security Clearance (SC).
• BPSS clearance is required prior to starting.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £50,000 - £55,000 per annum.
• 12-month fixed-term contract with a leading defence organisation.
• Flexible 4-day working week.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defence programmes.
• Collaborative and supportive engineering environment.
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing and quality assurance processes within the defence sector.

This role would suit an experienced QA Engineer from a defence, aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing background who enjoys working closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to deliver high-quality products.

If you're ready to take the next step in your Quality Assurance career, apply today with your CV and a member of our Defence recruitment team will be in touch.