Principal Quality Assurance Engineer

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading multinational company as a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer. In this dynamic role, you will enhance quality excellence across the product development lifecycle while working on crucial aerospace and defense projects. You'll lead APQP implementation, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster cross-functional collaboration.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Company funded flexible benefits

25 days plus bank holidays

Award winning pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted Gym membership

Free access to online courses via Coursera

Referral Incentive

Bonus scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in quality engineering within aerospace or defense sectors.
• Extensive APQP experience including implementation across project phases.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of APQP methodologies throughout product development.
• Oversee quality assurance during early-stage Life Cycle Management gates.
• Serve as primary contact for quality-related matters with customers.

Skills

Quality engineering

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)

Quality management systems

Risk assessment

Root cause analysis

Software Quality Assurance

Job description

Job Description:

Are you an experienced and passionate Principal Quality Assurance Engineer eager to be part of a pioneering, multinational initiative? We are seeking a dynamic professional to join our growing team and contribute to high-impact projects in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Salary: £48,000 - £58,000 per year

What you’ll do as a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer:
As a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer, you will play a key role in driving quality excellence across all stages of the product development lifecycle. You will lead the adoption of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver world-class solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion APQP Implementation: Lead the integration of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies, ensuring quality standards are established and adhered to throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support Early-Stage LCM Gates: Oversee quality assurance during early-stage Life Cycle Management (LCM) gates, ensuring that all deliverables meet quality requirements before progressing.
• Customer and Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for quality-related matters with customers and key stakeholders, ensuring their needs and expectations are understood and exceeded.
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Safeguard full compliance with relevant quality standards and regulations, particularly within the defense and aerospace industries.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with design, engineering, and program management teams to integrate quality considerations into every phase of the project.
• Lead Quality Audits: Plan and conduct internal and external quality audits, assessing adherence to standards, identifying areas for improvement, and driving continuous quality enhancements.
• Global Partner Coordination: Collaborate with international domain partners to align on global quality management practices, share best practices, and ensure consistency in quality standards.
• Software Quality Assurance: Ensure appropriate Software Quality Assurance processes are implemented, particularly in alignment with Agile methodologies and Sprints.

What We Need From You

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in quality engineering, ideally within the aerospace or defense sectors.
• Extensive experience with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), including the ability to champion its implementation across all project phases.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems and industry standards (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001), with a focus on regulatory requirements specific to aerospace and defense.
• Expertise in APQP methodologies and tools, New Product Introduction (NPI) processes, and risk assessment and root cause analysis techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to lead quality initiatives and mentor team members, particularly in APQP practices and standards.
• Awareness of Software Quality Assurance requirements and familiarity with software development methodologies such as Agile and Sprints.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience in the aerospace or defense industries is preferred but not essential.

Security Clearance

You must be eligible for full security clearance. For more information and guidance please visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Life at Leonardo

With a company funded benefits package, a commitment to learning and development, and a flexible approach to working hours focused on the needs of both our employees and customers, a career with Leonardo has never offered as many opportunities or been more accessible to as many people.

• Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us
• Company funded flexible benefits: We offer award-winning flexible benefits plan, having won the Best Flexible Working Policy Award, Best Flexible Benefits Strategy and Best Flexible Benefits Plan in 2023. These include; access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)
• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year
• Pension: Award winning pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing:Employee Assistance Programme, access to Mental Health support, Financial wellbeing support, network groups (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)
• Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme
• Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera
• Referral Incentive: You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family member
• Bonus: Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below

For a full list of our Company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are based in the UK.

At Leonardo UK, we believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment unlocks our people’s full potential and drives innovation and creativity. We work hard to offer a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place to work for all of our people, creating a culture where everyone can thrive, feel safe and have a sense of belonging and connection.

This is a great opportunity to bring your talents and form an integral part of Leonardo’s future. We can help you develop your skills and offer great opportunities to develop and grow, so why not join us.

Primary Location:

GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid