Quality Assurance – HV equipment

Aventa; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 111,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Elia is seeking a Quality Assurance Officer on a freelance/consulting basis to develop and implement a robust QA framework for HV primary systems within the QoS team. The role involves coordinating external supplier and manufacturing QA activities, and driving internal document governance across European operations.

You will work in Brussels on a hybrid model with at least two onsite days weekly, engaging with cross-functional teams and international auditors to ensure compliant quality

Qualifications

• Engineering or technical background with quality management expertise.
• Experience with ISO 9001 or similar QMS.
• Ability to map and implement QA processes across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop a simple, effective Quality Management framework for HV primary systems.
• Lead external QA oversight including supplier and manufacturing assessments.
• Own internal QA governance, documentation publishing and data archiving.
• Coordinate FAT/SAT follow-ups and NCR close-out with stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across Belgium and Europe.

Skills

Quality management systems

HV equipment knowledge

Documentation tools (SharePoint)

Tools

SharePoint

eDoc

HyperTree

LegoNet

InfraRef

Job description

Client:European transmission system operator

Department: ETB / GXS / EPS (High-voltage primary systems expertise) – Quality of Supply (QoS) team

Contract type: Freelance / consulting service

Compensation: Competitive – to be confirmed

Location: Brussels – Monnoyer site | Hybrid: minimum 2 days/week onsite

Languages: English: mandatory | Dutch and/or French: strongly preferred for daily collaboration

Profile: Technical/engineering background with quality management systems experience; HV/primary equipment affinity a strong asset

EU authorization: Non-EU candidates must hold a valid work permit and residence permit for Belgium

Description

Context

Our client (a European transmission system operator alongside 50Hertz in Germany), is responsible for the high-voltage electricity transmission grid in Belgium. Within Elia's Technical Business unit (ETB), the GXS department houses the EPS (Equipment and Primary Systems) team, which covers expertise on high-voltage primary systems equipment supplied and installed in the Belgian grid: switchgear, power transformers, insulated cables, and overhead lines.

Within EPS, the Quality of Supply (QoS) team is responsible for quality follow-up across the entire supply scope — covering the equipment itself (during manufacturing and site installation), its technical documentation, and associated digital data. As ETB targets a significant step-change in quality management effectiveness and organisational impact over the coming years, the QoS team is building capacity and reinforcing its governance framework. A Quality Assurance Officer is being recruited to support this ambition.

Required Qualification

Responsibilities

Quality Management framework development

Analyse and map requirements for a simple and effective Quality Management framework adapted to ETB's scope of HV primary systems supply

Align and interface the framework with internal stakeholders across ETB departments and, where relevant — including coordination with 50Hertz (Germany)

Propose and validate the framework with clear timelines and milestones — in close collaboration with the QoS Team Lead

Implement the framework with a strong focus on communication, change management, and structured reporting on progress

External Quality Assurance — supplier and manufacturing oversight

Participate in factory audits led by the relevant equipment expert — with specific responsibility for reviewing the supplier's quality management system, not merely the product

Develop, maintain and implement quality control plans for the installation of HV equipment on site by suppliers — ensuring that installation quality is formally governed from handover to energisation

Develop and maintain a quality dashboard tracking suppliers' factory and site activities — based on qualitative feedback from equipment experts and quantitative KPI data

Coordinate the follow-up of external inspectors and inspection activities — primarily Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) for transformers, cable systems, and other primary equipment

Facilitate the follow-up of non-conformities (NCR) and associated corrective action plans — based on Return of Experience (REX) from production, testing, and installation; ensure systematic closure tracking

Internal Quality Assurance — information and process governance

Facilitate the correct organising, publishing and archiving of technical documents and data in their relevant tools and structures: document management systems (eDoc, HyperTree, SharePoint), asset database (InfraRef), and technical information wiki (LegoNet)

Facilitate the setup and use of document exchange platforms with suppliers during framework agreements — working with equipment experts to establish structured SharePoint environments for supplier collaboration

Map, create and archive internal processes at team and department level — using standard process documentation methods: flowcharts, swimlane diagrams, PACI tables, SIPOC models, BPMN

Coordinate factory performance evaluations — collecting, validating and presenting supplier performance data to support strategic sourcing decisions

Own KPI follow-up and reporting for quality across the supply scope — producing regular structured reports for the QoS Team Lead and EPS management

Requirements

Background and experience

Technical or engineering education (or equivalent professional experience) — the role interfaces daily with HV equipment experts and requires the credibility to engage on technical quality topics (materials, testing standards, installation procedures)

Proven experience in quality management systems and supplier follow-up — ideally in an industrial, energy, or critical infrastructure environment. Familiarity with ISO 9001 or equivalent QMS frameworks is expected

Experience in business process mapping and documentation — BPMN, swimlane diagrams, SIPOC, PACI, flowcharts. The internal QA scope requires structuring and formalising processes across multiple teams

Experience with HV or primary system equipment (switchgear, transformers, cables, overhead lines) is a strong differentiator — either from a supplier, engineering, or client/asset-owner environment

Comfortable with digital document management tools (SharePoint at minimum; exposure to DMS platforms such as eDoc or similar is a plus)

Profile

Open and curious: able to learn new domains quickly — both the technical HV equipment landscape and internal processes and tools

Structured and autonomous: able to manage multiple parallel workstreams (framework development + external QA + internal QA) independently, with minimal supervision

Proactive: brings proposals and recommendations rather than waiting for direction — the QoS team is in growth mode and expects contributors who identify gaps and act on them

Comfortable with travel within Belgium (ETB installations) and within Europe (supplier factory visits — mainly EU)

Languages

English: mandatory — all technical documentation, supplier communication (international suppliers), are in English

Dutch and/or French: strongly preferred — daily collaboration with local Belgian suppliers and stakeholders requires one or both. Candidates proficient in neither would face a significant integration barrier

Non-EU candidates: must hold a valid work permit authorising employment in Belgium AND a valid residence permit confirming the right of residence in Belgium. Present only candidates who meet both criteria