Lead Design Quality Assurance Engineer - Inside IR35 or Fixed Term

Safran Engineering Services UK Limited; Pitstone; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early finish on Fridays (1pm)

Onsite canteen

Pension scheme (employee + employer)

Death in service life insurance (up to

Job summary

Safran Engineering Services UK Limited is seeking a Lead Design Quality Engineer to drive design assurance and airworthiness compliance for a 12-month project based in Pitstone, Hertfordshire. You will lead risk mitigation, regulatory alignment with EASA/CAA Part 21J, and DOH requirements across customer products.

You will coach and develop reporting engineers, define strategies for defect prevention, and coordinate with heads of engineering, configuration, and program teams to ensure 100%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, science, or engineering is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in ISO9001 and AS9100 QMS deployment and implementation.
• Previous experience with EASA/CAA Part 21J.
• Experience with internal and external audits and audit techniques; lead auditor trained preferred.
• APQP specialist with PPAP, FMEA and MSA experience.
• Strong problem-solving skills: 8D, RCCA, FRACA; Six Sigma DMAIC Black Belt desired.

Responsibilities

• Strategy definition and KPI reporting for all customers on shared product platform.
• Plan to measure design changes and documentation for continued airworthiness meeting EASA/CAA Part 21J and customer requirements.
• Lead design reviews (PDR/CDR) and DEV stages to integrate quality, safety and producibility.
• Review and validate technical documentation to confirm design performance.
• Lead RCCA/FRACA analysis and corrective actions with sustained monitoring.
• Define and deploy APQP tools for NPI and ensure DFMEA/PFMEA alignment.
• Lead DFMEA/PFMEA; act as quality champion during DEV stages.
• Coordinate internal/external FAIRs/PPAPs and obtain approvals as needed.
• Interact with customers for quality escapes and approvals with program needs.
• Support AS9100/NCR closure through audits and follow-up sessions.
• Engage with department heads and coach quality engineers on methodologies.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

APQP

DFMEA/PFMEA

RCCA/FRACA

Lead design reviews

Coaching & mentoring

Quality management

Root cause analysis

Project planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/engineering

Tools

ISO9001

AS9100

DOH & Part 21J knowledge

Job description

In order to develop and expand the capabilities of SAFRAN Engineering Services in the UK, we are looking for a Contractor to support as a Lead Design Quality Engineer. This position will be based full time in Pitstone, Hertfordshire and will be for a 12 months project with possible extension.

You will ensure that engineering designs meet safety, regulatory (EASA, CAA) and customer requirements before production commences focusing on risk mitigation and process compliance and engages effectively with all involved regulatory bodies.

Lead engineer is a senior role responsible for planning and delivery of design assurance oversight in line with Part 21J airworthiness requirements and Design Organization Handbook (DOH) requirements applicable to the customer products, responsible for achieving 100% compliance with airworthiness. You will engage with heads of production, engineering, configuration and support functions defining strategy for defect prevention, root cause analysis and continuous improvement across the full product development lifecycle.

You will be responsible for coaching and development of the reporting engineer/s and will identify and approve training needs, system weaknesses and opportunities to improve methods of functional and business working through audits.

Primary interactions will be with the heads of engineering design, configuration control, program and industrialisation teams at Pitstone site and personnel from the other Safran Business Units as defined by DOH to support and influence business target/s definition and verification.

You will interact with multiple customers and regulatory authorities (EASA, CAA) representing Safran Electrical & Power Ltd as per established and agreed plan.

You will agree strategy with assigned operations areas, to offer support on quality assurance matters and will review performance across different customer product lines. You will interact directly with the heads of engineering, configuration control, supply chain and supplier quality teams and ultimately define and provide appropriate resource for the NPI programme teams.

Principal accountabilities

• Strategy definition and KPI reporting for all the customers on shared product platform.
• Plan created to measure how design change and technical documentation for product continued airworthiness meet EASA/ CAA Part 21J airworthiness and customer requirements and communicate KPI.
• Leading design reviews PDR/ CDR and all stages of DEV program to integrate quality, safety and producibility into initial design and decide additional resource where required.
• Leading Technical documentation reviewed and validated to confirm design performance.
• Leading and facilitating root cause corrective actions (RCCA), failure reporting and corrective actions (FRACA) analysis & practical problem-solving activities with corrective action sustainment monitoring in place to prevent in service failures.
• Strategy for APQP tools deployed for NPI created and deployed.
• Leading DFMEA/ PFMEA, Quality champion during DEV process stages for FMEA update.
• Internal/ external FAIRs/PPAPs compiled and/ or approved where required with status reported.
• Customer interaction to accommodate for quality escapes and request for customer approvals in conjunction with programmes.
• Effective interaction with the customer/s for quality escapes and request for customer approvals in conjunction with design & program’s needs.
• Customer, EASA, CAA, ISO9001 and AS9100 requirements and audits supported with NCR closeout oversight and follow on sessions implemented.
• Audit design methodologies and software tools to ensure conformity to AS9100.
• Active engagement with departmental Heads with regular reviews planned.
• Coaching quality engineers and specialist on quality methodologies and regulatory standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, science, or engineering highly desirable.
• Min 5 years’ experience in aerospace industry or equivalent at engineering, design & development, or quality positions.
• Proficiency in ISO9001, AS9100 QMS standards deployment and implementation.
• Previous experience working with EASA/ CAA part 21J.
• Experience in internal and external audit and auditing techniques, lead auditor trained preferred.
• APQP Specialist with demonstrated proficiency in PPAP, FMEA and MSA.
• Problem solving proficient.8D, RCCA, FRACA with Six Sigma DMAIC Black Belt being desired.
• Configuration and data management experience.
• Ability to interpret and explain engineering drawings, CAD models and technical specifications.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate technical, complex issues effectively.
• Ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Experience with working in a new production environment.
• Demonstrated coaching and development skills

IF THE EMPLOYED ROUTE IS CHOSEN:

• Early finish on a Friday (1pm)
• 5 weeks holiday per year plus statutory bank holidays
• Personal pension scheme whereby 5% contribution from employee and 8% from employer plus salary sacrifice
• Death in service life insurance – covering up to 4x annual basic salary in the event of death in service
• PEGI Share Scheme
• Career development within Safran Group
• Training & development are a focus
• Onsite canteen

IF THE CONTRACTOR ROUTE IS CHOSEN:

• Early finish on a Friday (1pm)
• Onsite canteen