QA Engineer

Location: Ampthill

Are you an experienced Quality Assurance professional looking to join one of the UK's leading defence engineering organisations?

We're recruiting for a QA Engineer to support complex defence manufacturing programmes based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a fast-paced, highly regulated engineering environment, helping to ensure products meet the highest quality and compliance standards throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.

You'll play a key role in driving quality assurance activities across manufacturing and engineering teams, supporting continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring robust non-conformance management processes are in place.

The Role

As a QA Engineer, you will be responsible for:

Generating control plans from engineering drawings for manufactured parts and assemblies.
Managing the non-conformance process from containment and quarantine through to effective Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA).
Participating in design and drawing reviews to ensure quality requirements are captured early in the product lifecycle.
Supporting manufacturing teams to maintain compliance within an AS9100-regulated environment.
Driving quality problem-solving activities and continuous improvement initiatives.
Working collaboratively with engineering, manufacturing and programme teams to resolve quality-related issues.
Ensuring quality documentation and processes are maintained in line with company and industry standards.

Essential Skills & Experience

Strong understanding of Quality Assurance principles and best practices.
Experience working within an AS9100-regulated manufacturing environment.
Proven experience managing non-conformance and RCCA activities.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications and manufacturing documentation.
Experience developing and maintaining Control Plans.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent organisational and communication abilities.
Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Skills & Experience

Experience with in the Defence or Aerospace manufacturing sectors.
Knowledge of AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
SAP experience or familiarity with ERP systems.
Understanding of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Engineering, Manufacturing or Quality-related qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent).

Working Arrangements

Primarily on-site, working four days per week in Ampthill.
Limited hybrid working may be available depending on business requirements.
Flexible 4-day working week (Monday to Thursday).

Security Requirements

Candidates must be eligible to obtain Security Clearance (SC).
BPSS clearance is required prior to starting.

What's on Offer?

Salary of £50,000 - £55,000 per annum.
12-month fixed-term contract with a leading defence organisation.
Flexible 4-day working week.
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge defence programmes.
Collaborative and supportive engineering environment.
Exposure to advanced manufacturing and quality assurance processes within the defence sector.

This role would suit an experienced QA Engineer from a defence, aerospace or highly regulated manufacturing background who enjoys working closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to deliver high-quality products.

If you're ready to take the next step in your Quality Assurance career, apply today with your CV and a member of our Defence recruitment team will be in touch