The Role
Howden Compressors (HCO) is seeking a proactive and technically skilled Project Quality Engineer to join our Renfrew-based team. Reporting to the Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager, this role is pivotal in ensuring our package projects meet the highest standards of quality, documentation, and delivery performance. You’ll be the central point for quality engineering, driving excellence across inspection and test plans, paint specifications, and contract-specific quality documentation.
The successful candidate will collaborate closely with internal teams and external stakeholders—including clients, suppliers, and certifying bodies—to manage quality throughout the full project lifecycle, from quotation to final delivery. You’ll lead supplier risk assessments, review and approve technical documentation, and support inspection activities to ensure compliance with client and regulatory requirements. Your expertise will help reduce the cost of poor quality (COPQ) and improve customer satisfaction through structured continuous improvement.
This role demands strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, along with a solid technical background in areas such as welding, fabrication, or machining. Experience with ISO 9001, root cause analysis, and manufacturing processes is essential, while qualifications in auditing, Lean, or Six Sigma are highly desirable. You’ll also play a key role in driving cross-functional collaboration and embedding quality into standard work practices.
With occasional travel (5–15%) to suppliers and other Howden locations, this role offers the opportunity to influence global supply chain performance and contribute to strategic quality initiatives. If you’re passionate about driving quality, innovation, and continuous improvement in a dynamic engineering environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Who are we
Howden has a range of compressors, blowers, fans, steam turbines, and rotary heat exchangers, and has been at the forefront of developing engineered solutions for the needs of industrial processes since 1854. In 2023, Howden joined forces with Chart Industries, a global leader in engineered equipment for clean energy and industrial gas markets.
Together, we operate over 64 manufacturing sites and 50+ service centres worldwide, with 11,700+ employees driving innovation in hydrogen, carbon capture, energy recovery, nuclear, water treatment, mining, and LNG. As part of the Nexus of Clean™, we are advancing a sustainable future—helping customers improve efficiency and reduce emissions across clean power, water, food, and industrial sectors.
Join us and be part of a purpose-driven team shaping the future and tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, all while growing your career in a dynamic global environment.
What you will do
1. Assume responsibility for all aspects of quality management throughout the value stream of packages from Quote to Cash (original quotation, through each stage of plan, build & test, through to receipt of cash).
2. Focus on proactive risk reduction and mitigation to ensure delivery of improved customer satisfaction.
3. Development and maintenance of inspection & test records (ITP); paint specifications.
4. Preparation & maintenance of contract quality plans to meet contract requirements.
5. Take active role in achieving overall Value Stream objectives and KPIs. Including, supporting Daily Management, contract reviews and any other workshops or kaizen events as required.
6. Provide input to HCO risk management, proposal, and early engagement processes with regards to project and technical requirements.
7. Input to supplier selection and identify and support approval of new suppliers.
8. Work closely with Supplier Quality team in the development and improvement of HCO supply chain performance; adopting a partnership approach with key suppliers.
9. Liaise with clients & witnessing authorities to meet contract requirements. Support inspection/process review activities at Sub-Contractors Works.
10. Work alongside colleagues to understand the project and product needs, as well as providing witness inspection and test support at suppliers.
11. Review & approve relevant supplier documentation such as weld procedures, NDE procedures, Hydrotest procedures and material certification etc in accordance with code & client requirements.
12. Take ownership in the reporting, analysis to help reduce COPQ across all aspects of product and documentation delivery.
13. Facilitate and lead root cause investigation and management of non-conformances.
14. Plan, manage and drive improvements in the management and control product/process and contract specific documentation.
15. Perform audits and process reviews, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), to improve overall process control and effectiveness.
16. Use Chart Business Improvement tools (CBE) approach to promote Built in Quality concepts into Standard work. Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Commercial and Procurement teams to drive improved manufacturing and supply chain performance and early defect detection.
17. Support the business in the management of the health, safety, and environmental management systems to maintain certification in accordance with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
What do you bring
An ideal candidate would likely have the following profile:
18. Understanding and experience working with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
19. Experience in Sourcing, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management.
20. Understanding of witness inspection and test activities.
21. Understanding and interpretation of engineering drawings.
22. Effective problem solving and root-cause analysis skills to lead & influence others to drive change.
23. Excellent communication skills at all levels, written and verbal.
24. Excellent data analysis skills & ability to present data effectively.
25. Experience with cross functional management.
26. Report and Procedure writing with excellent presentation skills.
27. Strong technical background in one of the following areas: casting, machining, metallurgy, welding, fabrication; or relevant manufacturing / packaging experience.
We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Howden more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you.
Our Benefits
This is a permanent position based at our HQ in Renfrew, including an early finish on Friday. Our range of fantastic benefits includes:
28. A flexible, hybrid working environment
29. Generous holiday entitlement package totalling 33 days annual leave
30. Howden Pension Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 7%
31. Company electric vehicle scheme through salary sacrifice
32. Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental and adoption leave pay
33. Free onsite parking
34. Healthcare cash plan
35. Group Life Assurance plan at 3x salary
36. Group Income Protection plan
37. Access to My Howden Benefits & Wellbeing Portal – Cycle2Work programme, range of discounts across various retailers, employee assistance programme, wealth of information to support health & wellbeing
38. Dedicated Spark Service – free counselling, physiotherapy, financial support, medical second opinion, remote GP, personal training, nutrition consultations etc
39. Financial planning & mortgage support
40. Opportunity to be involved in our ESG ‘Bright Future’ initiatives – STEM ambassador & volunteering
Chart is an equal opportunity employer
The Company intention in respect of recruitment, selection and promotion is to appoint the most suitable candidate for each job regardless of that person’s race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.