Technical & Quality Manager (Steel Foundry)
📍 Wednesbury
💰 Up to £60,000
The Opportunity
We are working with a well-established, multi-division UK casting group that specialises in steel, iron, and alloy castings for a wide range of industrial sectors.
Due to continued investment and growth, the business is looking to appoint a Technical & Quality Manager to take ownership of all technical, metallurgical, and quality functions within its steel foundry operation.
This is a hands-on, influential role, ideal for someone with strong experience in steel casting and foundry processes, who is looking to make a real impact in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
The Role
As Technical & Quality Manager, you will lead all aspects of technical support, metallurgy, process control, and quality assurance across the foundry.
You will work closely with production, customers, and suppliers to ensure castings are manufactured to specification, while driving continuous improvement in quality, yield, and overall performance.
This position combines shop floor involvement with technical leadership, making it ideal for someone who enjoys a varied and practical role.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide technical and metallurgical support across all foundry operations, including melting, moulding, pouring, fettling, and inspection
* Review and interpret customer specifications, drawings, and standards
* Advise on steel metallurgy, material selection, melting practices, and heat treatment
* Support and improve casting methoding, including feeding, gating, yield optimisation, and defect reduction
* Lead new product introduction from enquiry through to production release
* Investigate casting defects, scrap, and process variation, implementing effective corrective actions
* Manage all aspects of the quality function, including non-conformances, customer complaints, and returns
* Maintain traceability, technical documentation, and compliance systems
* Monitor and improve KPIs such as scrap rates, rework, yield, and right-first-time performance
* Support customer and supplier engagement, including audits and technical discussions
Requirements
Essential
* Proven experience in a technical, metallurgical, or quality role within a steel foundry
* Strong understanding of steel metallurgy, steel casting processes, and casting defects
* Experience in non-conformance management and continuous improvement
* Ability to interpret engineering drawings and customer specifications
* Experience working within a quality management system
* Hands-on, practical approach with the ability to work closely with shop floor teams
Desirable
* Degree, HNC or HND in Metallurgy, Materials, Mechanical Engineering or similar
* Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality standards
* Knowledge of NDT, destructive testing, and certification requirements
* Experience supporting customer audits and technical reviews