Lead Quality Engineer High Volume Cable & Machining
QA/Test and Inspection
Ampthill - Bedfordshire
Salary Range
Employee Type
Full Time
37.5
Working Schedule
4xFlex
Country
Business Environment
Lockheed Martin (UK) Ampthill is a rapidly changing, dynamic part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation with both domestic and international customers.
It consists of business areas focusing on Platform Integration, Ground Based Air Defence, Special Projects and Weapons, which provide a variety of products and services to the Ministry of Defence and other customers.
We are looking for talented individuals to join the company, in return we offer an exciting and challenging career path and excellent work/life balance with a 4 day week (Mon-Thurs) and flexible working arrangements.
About the Role
We are seeking a Lead Quality Engineer to drive world‑class quality performance across our high‑volume cable manufacturing and precision machining operations.
This role is responsible for leading quality strategy, ensuring robust planning for future work, and driving continuous improvement across processes, tools and people to achieve zero‑defect production, regulatory compliance and exceptional customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
* Own end‑to‑end quality assurance and quality control across all products within the high‑volume manufacturing area
* Define and execute the quality strategy for high‑volume cable manufacturing and machining operations
* Functionally lead and develop a team of Quality Engineers, including regular 1:1s, performance reviews and targeted coaching
* Lead quality inputs for bids and proposals, ensuring appropriate planning, risk assessment and resource allocation for future contracts
* Align quality objectives with key business KPIs, including yield, cost of quality and on‑time delivery
* Provide accurate and timely reporting on team performance and programme quality metrics
* Develop and maintain audit schedules, ensuring audits are completed and corrective actions are effectively implemented
* Implement Statistical Process Control (SPC), leveraging data and trend analysis to drive continuous improvement and corrective actions
Required skills, qualifications and experience
* Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, including at least 2+ years in a leadership or managerial role
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with your team, stakeholders and customers
* Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams, with a strong focus on mentoring, performance management and KPI delivery
* Experience in cable manufacturing and/or precision machining is strongly preferred
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, presentations and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
* Solid understanding of core quality tools and methodologies, including:
o Quality Management Plans
o PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)
o Control Plans
o FAIR (First Article Inspection Reports)
o Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
Desirable Qualifications & Experience
* Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
* Experience with SAP, particularly the Quality Management (QM) module, or similar software tools
* Certified Internal Auditor
* Experience in supplier quality management and inspection techniques
* Experience of the use of AI in quality assurance and control
What we offer you
At Lockheed Martin our employees come first and therefore your physical, mental and financial wellbeing matters to us.
On top of working in a highly supportive, friendly, respectful environment you can expect so much more.
We are an employer in support of and offering Flexible working with the option to also work a 4 day week depending on business requirements, where you have the option of Fridays off. We offer Competitive salaries alongside a flexible holiday entitlement.
We have a Wealth of benefits available to you that can be selected through our wellbeing tool upon commencement of employment. Just a few of our amazing benefits are shown below:
* Private Medical Insurance
* Critical Illness
* Life Assurance
* Travel Insurance
* Employee discounts for top high street shops
* Employee Assistance Program which includes free face‑to‑face counselling sessions, Legal advice, Financial advice, etc
* Internal training and development alongside our Education assistance programmes
* Reimbursement for a professional membership
* Competitive policies that support flexibility and family leave inclusive of enhanced maternity leave
Equal Opportunity Statement
Lockheed Martin is committed to upholding principles of equal opportunity, fostering a work environment that is aligned with our core values of integrity, respect and exceptional performance. We recognise the importance of leveraging the unique talents and experiences of all our employees to drive innovation, deliver superior solutions and maximise value for our customers. Our focus is on identifying the most qualified candidate for each role, regardless of their background. If you are interested in a position, we invite you to share how your skills and perspectives could bolster our team and encourage you to apply, even if you feel your qualifications do not fully meet all the job criteria outlined in our advertisement. Further, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive for all individuals. We are prepared to accommodate reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed. If you require assistance or adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruitment@global.lmco.com
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