Onsite Supplier Quality Engineer — Production Containment

Ricardo, Inc.; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ricardo is a world-leading propulsion engineering company based at Shoreham-by-Sea, UK. The Senior Supplier Quality Resident Engineer will act as the primary interface between suppliers and manufacturing, focusing on containment, inspection, material control, and rapid issue resolution.

You will work site-based with cross-functional teams to ensure supplier quality is contained, investigated, and resolved with minimal production disruption, while supporting relevant audits and continuous

Qualifications

• Engineering degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven experience in Supplier Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering, NPI, or a related manufacturing quality role.
• Practical experience with APQP, PPAP, and supplier development activities.
• Experience conducting supplier, process, or quality system audits.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as machining, casting, moulding, fabrication, assembly, or similar.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
• Experience using quality tools and methodologies, including 8D, Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, SPC, and Control Plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead containment actions for supplier quality concerns affecting production.
• Establish, maintain, and manage containment activities including controlled shipping, sorting, rework, segregation, and stock disposition.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for supplier quality issues identified within manufacturing, goods-in inspection, assembly operations and from customers.
• Work closely with production teams to ensure suspect material is rapidly identified, quarantined, and controlled.
• Define and implement temporary containment measures to protect customers and manufacturing operations.
• Support line-side investigations and provide hands-on problem-solving within manufacturing areas.
• Monitor containment effectiveness and ensure timely closure of containment actions.
• Coordinate third-party sorting providers when required.
• Maintain containment records, traceability documentation, and reporting metrics.
• Support escalation processes when supplier issues threaten production continuity.
• Manage day-to-day quality activities for designated low-priority suppliers.
• Review supplier quality performance and support implementation of corrective actions.
• Verify supplier responses to non-conformances and ensure actions are completed effectively.
• Support supplier assessments and audits when required.
• Participate in supplier quality reviews and performance discussions.
• Escalate significant supplier concerns to the Supplier Quality Assurance team where appropriate.
• Collaborate with procurement and suppliers to support quality improvements and risk reduction.
• Lead investigations into supplier-related quality concerns using structured problem solving methodologies including 8D, Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, FMEA, and similar tools.
• Verify effectiveness of corrective actions through production monitoring, inspection activities, and data analysis.
• Support non-conformance management processes and material review activities.
• Assess the production impact of supplier defects and support risk-based decisionmaking.
• Support engineering and manufacturing teams during investigations into product and process concerns.
• Generate and maintain receiving inspection and containment requirements as necessary.
• Support supplier quality activities during product development and launch phases.
• Assist with APQP and PPAP activities for assigned suppliers as required.
• Support supplier readiness reviews and launch risk assessments.
• Participate in project reviews and support issue resolution during programme introduction.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing supplier-related defects and containment costs.
• Drive lessons learned activities arising from recurring supplier quality concerns.
• Maintain compliance with Ricardo quality procedures and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Contribute to improvements in inspection, containment, and material control processes.
• Promote quality-focused behaviours and proactive problem solving within manufacturing operations.
• Reporting & Communication
• Provide regular updates on containment activities, supplier quality issues, production risks, and recovery actions.
• Participate actively in production, quality, and operational review meetings.
• Support customer-facing discussions relating to supplier quality issues as required.

Skills

Supplier Quality

Quality Engineering

NPI

APQP

PPAP

8D Problem Solving

FMEA

SPC

Control Plans

GD&T

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Education

Engineering degree

HNC/HND

IATF 16949 knowledge

Tools

MS Office

Minitab

Calipers & Micrometers

Job description

Ricardo is a world-leading propulsion engineering company based at Shoreham-by-Sea, UK. The Senior Supplier Quality Resident Engineer will act as the primary interface between suppliers and manufacturing, focusing on containment, inspection, material control, and rapid issue resolution.

You will work site-based with cross-functional teams to ensure supplier quality is contained, investigated, and resolved with minimal production disruption, while supporting relevant audits and continuous