The Programme Quality Engineer is responsible for providing Mission Assurance support across assigned bids and defence programmes, ensuring that hardware and electrical elements of complex system development meet technical and process compliance standards. This role oversees, inspects, and approves system deliverables, with the authority to withhold release until all required standards are satisfied.
Responsibilities:
* Conduct Mission Assurance and Quality Assurance activities across bids and programme execution in line with company procedures.
* Provide independent oversight to ensure compliance with external standards, internal policies, and contractual requirements.
* Participate in Gate Reviews and support teams in achieving mission success.
* Collaborate with project and Supply Chain teams to assure supplier quality, including onboarding, performance monitoring, and quarterly assessments of critical suppliers.
* Oversee flow-down of MA/QA requirements to suppliers and manage sub-contract activities.
* Contribute to Risk and Opportunity Management across bids, projects, and programmes.
* Develop and maintain programme-specific processes and documentation.
* Produce MA/QA reports, escalating key issues or risks, and ensure customer deliverables meet required standards.
* Liaise with customers, suppliers, and third parties on all aspects of Mission and Quality Assurance, including presenting MA/QA metrics to Programme Managers and senior Quality leadership.
Essential Experience
* Quality Assurance experience in a systems engineering environment.
* Experience of UK MOD assurance requirements and working practices.
* Track record of delivering to identified Quality Assurance requirements.
* Experience of quality improvement, including lessons learnt & root cause analysis.
* Experience of risk identification, reporting and management
* Some UK travel is required, so a valid UK driving license is required.
Preferred Experience
* Strong knowledge of APQP/PPAP methodologies, preferably to AS9145 standards.
* IPC 610/620 certified for electrical inspection.
* Experienced in developing and interpreting Quality Management Plans (QMPs) in accordance with AQAP standards, including 2105 (Quality Plans), 2110 (Design, Development and Production), and 2210 (Software Quality Assurance).
* Solid understanding of Defence engineering standards and safety practices, including Def Stan 05-57 and IEC 61508.
* Good understanding of systems engineering principles and methodologies.
* Comprehensive knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, and ISO 27001 standards; familiarity with ISO 44001 and ISO 20000-1 is advantageous.
Competency/Skill requirements
* Highly self-motivated, capable of working independently or collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
* Strong interpersonal communicator, able to build effective relationships and engage confidently with diverse stakeholders and customers.
* Technically proficient, with experience using MS Office Suite, JIRA, Atlassian tools, and ERP systems such as SAP.