Head of Quality, Defence Hardware – Build & Lead QMS

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™ is seeking a Head of Quality to build and lead the quality function for a growing UK defence business developing high-performance hardware for demanding, regulated applications. This is a hands-on leadership role aligning engineering and manufacturing with a robust QMS.

You will establish the QMS, embed quality culture, develop supplier quality and traceability, and implement processes to move products from development to scaled

Qualifications

• Significant quality leadership experience within aerospace, defence or another regulated hardware environment.
• Experience building or developing a QMS, not just maintaining it.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 and/or ISO 9001.
• Experience supporting hardware products from prototype through production.
• Supplier quality management, auditing and traceability.
• Internal auditing and audit readiness.
• FMEA, control plans, SPC and APQP.
• Product compliance and technical documentation.
• Experience working with external test or certification bodies.
• CQI, Lead Auditor or similar qualification.
• Previous experience building and developing a quality team.
• Comfortable working in a less structured environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the quality function for a growing defence business.
• Establish the QMS and embed quality throughout engineering and manufacturing.
• Develop supplier quality and traceability.
• Create processes to transfer products from development into scaled production.
• Lead a quality team as manufacturing scales.

Skills

Quality leadership

QMS development

AS9100 / ISO 9001

Hardware manufacturing

Supplier quality management

Auditing & CAPA

Internal auditing

FMEA / APQP

First Article Inspection

Defence industry

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Job description

SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™ is seeking a Head of Quality to build and lead the quality function for a growing UK defence business developing high-performance hardware for demanding, regulated applications. This is a hands-on leadership role aligning engineering and manufacturing with a robust QMS.

You will establish the QMS, embed quality culture, develop supplier quality and traceability, and implement processes to move products from development to scaled