Payload Product Assurance Engineer

Baltic Recruitment Services Ltd; Sedgefield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Income Protection Insurance

SAYE share scheme

EV scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Volunteering day

Learning and development opportunities

Career progression

Job summary

Baltic Recruitment Services Ltd. is seeking a Payload Product Assurance Engineer to ensure quality, reliability and compliance of space payload products.

You will work with Engineering, Manufacturing and Programme teams to deliver high-quality RF/microwave hardware for Space and Defence applications. Key duties include leading QA across programmes, embedding quality, reviewing plans, and driving root cause investigations while aligning with ECSS/ESA/NASA standards.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Physics, Quality or related discipline.
• Experience in Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Quality or Reliability Engineering.
• Experience with complex electronic, RF, aerospace or space products.
• Knowledge of ECSS, ESA or NASA quality standards.
• Excellent communication and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead product assurance activities across payload and space hardware programmes from concept to customer delivery.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory and industry standards (ECSS/ESA/NASA).
• Embed quality throughout the product lifecycle with Engineering, Manufacturing and Test teams.
• Review and approve quality plans and release documentation.
• Lead root cause investigations and NRBs.
• Monitor quality metrics and maintain configuration control.

Skills

Product assurance

Quality assurance

Root cause analysis

ECSS/ESA/NASA standards

Cross-functional collaboration

Space/defence domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Quality

Tools

FMEA

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Payload Product Assurance Engineer to play a key role in ensuring the quality, reliability and compliance of advanced space payload products throughout their lifecycle.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Programme teams, you will support the delivery of high-quality RF and microwave hardware for demanding Space and Defence applications.

Key Duties:

• Lead product assurance activities across payload and space hardware programmes from concept through to customer delivery.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory and industry standards, including ECSS, ESA and NASA requirements.
• Work with Engineering, Manufacturing and Test teams to embed quality throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support the selection and qualification of space-grade electronic components and materials.
• Review and approve quality plans, manufacturing documentation, non-conformance reports and release documentation.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective actions and Non-Conformance Review Boards (NRBs).
• Participate in design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, customer reviews and programme gate reviews.
• Monitor quality metrics, process capability and continuous improvement activities.
• Maintain robust configuration control, traceability and product documentation.
• Support supplier quality and material/process compliance activities.

Key Requirements:

• Degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Physics, Quality or a related discipline.
• Experience in Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Quality or Reliability Engineering.
• Experience working with complex electronic, RF, aerospace, defence or space products.
• Strong understanding of quality management systems, non-conformance management and root cause analysis.
• Knowledge of space-grade electronic components, PCB manufacturing and aerospace soldering standards.
• Familiarity with ECSS, ESA or NASA quality standards.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience supporting satellite, payload or wider space programmes.
• Knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Experience with configuration management, FMEA, risk management, qualification or acceptance testing.
• Experience supporting supplier or customer audits.

The Package:

• Competitive salary depending on experience.
• 37.5 hour working week.
• 25 days' holiday plus public holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Contributory pension scheme with up to 8% company contribution.
• Life Assurance.
• Income Protection Insurance.
• SAYE share scheme.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) scheme.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Volunteering day.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge Space and Defence programmes within a collaborative engineering environment.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

The successful candidate must satisfy UK Security Clearance requirements.