Quality Engineer We're hiring to support a major increase in customer demand & give dedicated focus to a key aerospace account and its continuous improvement activity. In return, you'll receive up to £35,000, 25 days' holiday birthday leave & extra service days, life assurance & the chance to build a long-term career in a niche, highly regulated sector. About Us South West Metal Finishing is a long-established, family-run surface engineering and metal finishing group, supplying high-spec components to the aerospace, defence, automotive and high-technology sectors. From our large facility on Marsh Barton Trading Estate in Exeter, we provide electroplating, anodising, chemical conversion, and non-destructive testing services to many leading aerospace manufacturers and their supply chains. We hold AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP and ISO 14001 accreditations, operate in a highly regulated environment, and have been refining our craft for over 90 years. You'll be joining a friendly, experienced quality team in a business that offers job security, interesting aerospace and defence work, and real scope for progression within quality, compliance and wider group roles. Why You'll Enjoy This Role * Development & progression: Clear pathways into senior quality, compliance and group roles, with strong support from a Quality & Product Assurance leadership team that genuinely invests in people. * Work–life balance: Day shifts only, early Friday finish, and no regular weekend work. * Benefits: * 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays * An additional birthday day off (linked to attendance) * Extra holiday for long service (up to 5 additional days) * 5% employer / 5% employee pension * Death in service cover at 3x salary * Healthcare cashplan-style scheme (for example contribution towards dental/optical) The Role As a Quality Engineer, you'll focus on non-conforming product, customer returns and continuous improvement – with particular emphasis on a key aerospace account where volumes and complexity are increasing. You'll work closely with Quality, Engineering and Operations teams to investigate issues properly, not just apply a quick fix, and help move the culture towards robust root cause analysis and prevention. Key Responsibilities * Lead investigations into non-conforming product, using problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA, Poka-Yoke or Six Sigma to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. * Review and process customer returns daily, ensuring timely assessment, clear documentation and effective corrective and preventive actions in line with KPIs. * Support the daily MRB (Material Review Board) process, walking the shop floor with engineering and operations to assess issues, agree dispositions and drive follow-up actions. * Liaise with internal stakeholders when procedures, specifications or work instructions need updating, ensuring documentation reflects current best practice. * Provide professional communication to customers and suppliers, including 8D reports and responses to quality concerns. * Support Lead Inspectors with AS9102 First Article Inspection Reports and help identify training needs within inspection. * Analyse external (customer) returns data to spot trends and implement robust preventative actions. * Attend daily SQDCP/departmental meetings and communicate openly with engineering, sales and production to help achieve company objectives. About You Essential * Hands-on Quality Engineering / Quality Assurance experience, ideally including non-conformances, customer returns and MRB activity. * Proven experience in a manufacturing environment. * Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (for example ISO 9001, AS9100) and related documentation. * Strong problem-solving skills and familiarity with structured tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA or similar. * Able to interpret technical drawings and use MS Office confidently. * Clear, professional communication skills – both written and verbal – with the ability to engage at all levels. Desirable * Experience in aerospace, surface treatment, electroplating or anodising environments. * Exposure to Nadcap or similar special process audits. Location : Marsh Barton, Exeter (on-site) Hours : Monday–Thursday 08:00–16:30, Friday 08:00–14:00 Salary: £32,000–£35,000 depending on experience