Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Sepura; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking technology company as a Lead Supplier Quality Engineer, where you will play a pivotal role in enhancing supplier quality across a global supply base. This dynamic position involves collaborating with suppliers, managing quality systems, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. You will be part of a dedicated team that values effective communication and critical thinking, ensuring high-quality standards are met. If you are motivated, technically skilled, and ready to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment, this is the perfect opportunity for you to advance your career.

Benefits

Travel Expenses Paid

Flexible Working Hours

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong background in supplier quality and quality systems required.
• Experience in volume manufacturing and global supply chains is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier quality management and strategy implementation.
• Conduct supplier assessments, audits, and establish quality performance reviews.

Skills

Supplier Quality Management

Quality Systems

Continuous Improvement Methodologies

Communication Skills

Critical Thinking

Education

HND in Engineering or Equivalent Experience

Tools

PPAP Core Tools

FMEA

Control Plans

MSA

SPC

Job description

06th March, 2025

The Lead Supplier Quality Engineer will be part of Sepura's Quality Team and take a leading role in managing the development, implementation, monitoring and improvement of quality throughout the supply chain and be responsible for reporting on supplier quality performance to internal and external stakeholders. To be successful, you will have a strong background in supplier quality, quality systems and core tools in a design and development environment and have experience working within volume manufacturing, leading quality in a global supply base.

Come and join Sepura Ltd at an exciting time of growth and progress your career within this innovative technology company, based in Waterbeach, Cambridge.

Your Role:

In your role, you will be taking the lead on supplier quality management, defining the supplier quality strategy and ensuring its effective implementation, collaborating with new and existing suppliers, contract manufacturers and internal stakeholders to achieve a consistent and high level of quality performance. You will both lead and support activities related to supplier quality, performing assessments, audits and inspections, and establishing SMART targets and goals, providing regular performance reports, to ensure meaningful and continuous improvement.

We are looking for a highly motivated, determined and technically focussed individual who can work in a fast-paced environment and be an effective communicator and collaborator. The role requires critical thinking skills and competencies, being able to develop and implement requirements on the supply base, applying an evidence-based approach to analyse and understand issues and take action to improve supplier quality. The role is within a small, focussed team who lead and support the quality direction in all areas of the business.

The ability to communicate effectively and support others in a dynamic environment is critical, as is the ability to add value to all processes. As the Lead Supplier Quality Engineer you will be expected to lead improvement activities and will be comfortable making decisions based upon data and having the responsibility for implementing appropriate actions.

Your Day to Day:

Our customer base includes many different industries and markets around the world. Our complete TETRA and LTE solutions have been developed specifically for users in multiple sectors to face their critical communications challenges.

There is no such thing as a typical day here at Sepura. You will be supported by your manager and team, as well as collaborating with other departments across the business. Lead Supplier Quality activities you will be responsible for include:

1. Develop, establish and maintain process controls and activities, including elements of PPAP, for meeting Sepura requirements and improving supplier quality.
2. Work with internal stakeholders to define and maintain quality requirements on the supply base.
3. Participate in supplier quality development activities, including specification reviews and assessment activities.
4. Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers, establishing quality control plans, identifying and progressing actions to continually improve performance and developing overall supplier quality maturity.
5. Manage and maintain the supplier audit programme.
6. Perform supplier assessments and audits in accordance with the audit programme.
7. Develop, establish and lead supplier quality performance reviews.
8. Support incoming quality inspection activities, as required, identifying and reporting on defects and non-conformities.
9. Responsible for managing supplier incidents and non-conformities, ensuring effective root cause analysis is performed using industry recognised techniques.
10. Support and mentor other business functions and supply base, as required, to improve supplier quality maturity.
11. Support the Quality Team in delivering assigned actions and tasks.

As part of the role, you will be expected to travel regularly to suppliers and contract manufacturers within our global supply base. The successful applicant will need to be confident travelling independently and have a full, clean driving licence and their own car. Travel expenses will be paid.

What you need to succeed:

Qualifications

1. Minimum HND in an engineering related subject (i.e. Electronics / mechanical) or equivalent experience in a quality engineering role, or related field.
2. Auditor certification to a recognised Quality Standard (e.g., IRCA Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor).

Essential Experience and Skills

1. Demonstratable knowledge of working within quality management frameworks and familiarity with the principles and requirements of quality management systems.
2. Strong expertise in working within a Supplier Quality or Quality Engineer role, within an electronics, telecommunications or similar industry.
3. Comprehensive understanding with onboarding and managing quality across a global supply base, carrying out evaluations of supplier capabilities and maturing supplier quality.
4. Highly competent in conducting supplier assessments and audits in accordance with industry standards and good practices.
5. Proven track record in applying continuous improvement methodologies and tools to support data driven decisions and process enhancements.
6. Skilled in applying PPAP core tools within a volume manufacturing environment, in particular, FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC and FAI.
7. A broad and deep ability to apply industry standard problem methodologies and root cause analysis techniques.
8. Experienced in providing technical support and guidance to suppliers to help resolve product and process issues and improve overall quality.
9. Strong leadership, coaching, communication and presentation skills and able to effectively and proactively collaborate with suppliers and teams, across all levels of a business.

Desirable Experience and Skills

1. Knowledge and understanding of SMT production lines and/or electro-mechanical assemblies.
2. Knowledge and understanding of Lean six sigma best practices.
3. Knowledge and understanding of ESD controls.
4. Knowledge of IPC and inspection processes.
5. Travel experience to European and/or Asia based suppliers.