Quality Engineer

Overview

Focus:
Supplier, Customer & Technical Drawing Approval

Department:
Quality Assurance & Control

Reports to:

Quality Manager (Mentor) / General Manager

Succession Pathway:
Structured progression toward Senior Quality Engineer and ultimately Quality Manager

Mentorship Period: 12–18 months structured transition

Location:

Staffordshire with regular UK and Netherlands inter-site travel

Travel: UK travel plus annual visits to South Korea, China, India and selected worldwide customer locations

We are the UK subsidiary of a Swedish business and ultimately part of a large Danish PLC. Focus being within the hydraulic fluid power sector. The business supplies adaptors, manifolds, hose assemblies and precision fittings to leading global OEMs in the off‑road equipment market.

We operate across three principal sites (Head Office – Durham, UK Warehouse – Staffordshire, and European/ROTW Warehouse – Huizen, Netherlands) and work closely with joint venture manufacturing partners in South Korea, China and India, as well as sister hose manufacturing facilities in Poland.

This position is a strategic succession‑planning appointment designed to develop the next leader of our quality function.

Over an 18‑month structured mentorship period, the Quality Engineer will progressively assume responsibility for supplier quality management, customer quality interface and complaint resolution, technical drawing review and production approval, and product validation and risk mitigation. While operating within our ISO 9001 framework, this role focuses primarily on product and process quality rather than quality‑system ownership.

Strong technical engagement with machined components, metallurgy, sealing technology (particularly O‑ring applications), and hydraulic performance is central to success in this position. Knowledge of welding processes and their impact on material integrity is advantageous.

• Supplier Quality Management
  • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships (UK and international)
  • Support and progressively lead supplier onboarding and qualification
  • Conduct and lead supplier audits and technical reviews
  • Manage non‑conformance investigations and corrective action processes
  • Lead cross‑functional teams using 8D methodology to resolve customer or internal non‑conformances
  • Develop the technical proficiency of QA technicians in core applications
  • Monitor supplier performance metrics and risk indicators
  • Support regulatory and customer compliance reporting including REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, CBAM, PFAS and TSCA
• Production Drawing & Technical Specification Approval
  • Review and progressively approve supplier production drawings
  • Validate tolerances, fits, surface finishes and critical characteristics
  • Assess material specifications and metallurgical certifications
  • Evaluate sealing interfaces and O‑ring groove design considerations
  • Collaborate with suppliers to mitigate design‑for‑manufacture risks
  • Support new part introduction and qualification processes
  • Experience interpreting technical drawings is essential. CAD familiarity (e.g. Solid Works or AutoCAD) is advantageous.
• Customer Quality Interface & Technical Support
  • Liaise directly with customer quality and engineering teams
  • Investigate complaints and field failures using structured problem‑solving
  • Lead corrective and preventive action coordination through the QA team
  • Assist in the preparation and review of 8D reports and supporting technical documentation
  • Support and later lead customer audits and performance reviews
  • Contribute to product documentation and certification packs
  • Technical credibility – particularly in machining, hydraulics and sealing performance – will be essential when engaging with customer engineering teams.

• On‑floor training at each warehouse to gain a full understanding of goods‑in, storage, picking and dispatch processes
• Exposure to cross‑departmental activities to learn the entire quotation‑to‑delivery process. By spending time in Quotation & Sales, Purchasing, and Logistics, an understanding will be gained of how each step impacts overall quality and customer…