Lead Quality Engineer Automotive

DCV Technologies; Coventry; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive firm is seeking an Exterior Quality Lead Engineer to drive vehicle launch quality and overall perceived quality. You will be responsible for leading the exterior quality activities across multiple vehicle programmes, ensuring adherence to visual and functional quality standards from prototype to mass production. Ideal candidates will have strong automotive quality engineering experiences, particularly in fit & finish, with hands-on exposure to vehicle builds. This role promises significant engagement with OEM launch processes and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Solid background in automotive vehicle quality or launch quality engineering.
• Experience in managing fit & finish and perceived quality in projects.
• Hands-on exposure throughout vehicle builds and launch support phases.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality activities across vehicle programmes, focusing on exterior systems.
• Drive quality standards for gap & flush and surface finish.
• Support vehicle build phases including VP, TT, PP and Job 1.
• Manage quality issues with structured methodologies.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing and design teams.

Skills

Automotive vehicle quality background

Experience with fit & finish

Hands-on vehicle builds

Knowledge of AIMS, 8D, FMEA

Experience using CATIA V5 or V6

Understanding of GD&T

Strong problem-solving skills

Tools

CATIA V5

CATIA V6

Job description

Exterior Quality Lead Engineer - Automotive

We are recruiting an Exterior Quality Lead Engineer to support a major automotive OEM programme focused on vehicle launch quality, fit & finish, and perceived quality. This is a hands‑on engineering role, working across vehicle build phases to ensure exterior systems meet visual, dimensional and functional quality standards from prototype through Job 1.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead exterior quality activities across vehicle programmes, covering trims, seals, glazing and window systems
• Drive gap & flush, surface finish, visual and tactile quality standards
• Support vehicle build phases including VP, TT, PP and Job 1
• Manage issues using AIMS, 8D, FMEA and structured root cause analysis
• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality and Design teams
• Interface with suppliers to ensure part conformance, control plans and incoming quality
• Support launch readiness reviews and quality gateways

Required Skills & Experience

• Automotive vehicle quality or launch quality engineering background
• Strong experience with fit & finish, perceived quality, gap & flush
• Hands‑on exposure to vehicle builds and launch support
• Working knowledge of AIMS, 8D, FMEA, Control Plans
• Experience using CATIA V5 or V6
• Understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis and metrology
• Confident communicator with strong problem‑solving skills

Nice to Have

• Experience with Class A surfaces, paint finish or trim quality
• Exposure to Q‑DAS, Minitab or statistical quality tools
• OEM or Tier‑1 supplier environment

This role offers strong exposure to OEM launch processes, cross‑functional collaboration, and high‑impact quality ownership.

Apply now to discuss further