Overview
Join to apply for the Quality Engineer role at South West Metal Finishing.
Note: This listing includes details about the role, pay range, company background, responsibilities and qualifications.
South West Metal Finishing provided pay range
This range is provided by South West Metal Finishing. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
We’re hiring to support a major increase in customer demand and focus on a key aerospace account and its continuous improvement activity.
In return, you’ll receive up to £35,000, 25 days’ holiday plus birthday leave and extra service days, life assurance and 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. We provide electroplating, anodising, chemical conversion, and nondestructive testing services. We hold AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP and ISO 14001 accreditations and operate in a highly regulated environment with over 90 years of experience. You’ll be joining a friendly, experienced quality team with opportunities 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.
* 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; extra holiday for long service; pension contributions; life cover; healthcare cashplan-style scheme.
The Role
As a Quality Engineer, you’ll focus on non-conforming product, customer returns and continuous improvement — with emphasis on a key aerospace account where volumes and complexity are increasing. You’ll work with Quality, Engineering and Operations teams to investigate issues properly and help move the culture towards robust root cause analysis and prevention.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead investigations into non-conforming product using problem-solving tools (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA, Poka-Yoke or Six Sigma) to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
* Review and process customer returns daily with timely assessment, clear documentation and effective corrective/preventive actions in line with KPIs.
* Support the daily MRB (Material Review Board) process, collaborating with engineering and operations to assess issues, dispositions and follow-up actions.
* Liaise with internal stakeholders to update procedures, specifications or work instructions to reflect 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 identify training needs within inspection.
* Analyse external (customer) returns data to spot trends and implement preventive actions.
* Attend daily SQDCP/departmental meetings and communicate with engineering, sales and production to achieve company objectives.
Essential
Hands-on Quality Engineering/Quality Assurance experience, ideally including non-conformances, customer returns and MRB activity. Proven manufacturing experience. Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100) and related documentation. Strong problem-solving skills and familiarity with structured tools (8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA or similar). Ability to interpret technical drawings and use MS Office confidently. Clear, professional communication skills—written and verbal—across 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
Seniorities & Employment
* Entry level
* Employment type: Full-time
#J-18808-Ljbffr