Product Assurance Engineer

Copello; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Copello is seeking a Product Assurance Engineer to take ownership of product assurance and quality activities across space payload hardware. You will work across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and programme teams to ensure products meet ECSS, ESA and NASA standards from design through to delivery.

Ideal candidates will have a background in Product Assurance, Quality, Reliability or Manufacturing Engineering, with experience in aerospace or space products and a solid understanding of

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent 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.
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and non-conformance processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead product assurance activities across space payload and hardware programmes.
• Ensure compliance with ECSS, ESA and NASA requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams to embed quality.
• Support selection, assessment, and qualification of space-grade components.
• Review quality plans, manufacturing records, NCRs, and release documentation.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
• Lead or participate in Non-Conformance Review Boards.
• Provide input into design reviews, manufacturing readiness, and programme gates.
• Track quality performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain configuration control and traceability of quality records.
• Support supplier quality activities and material/process compliance.

Skills

Product Assurance

Quality Assurance

Reliability Engineering

Root Cause Analysis

Quality Management Systems

Communication Skills

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Product Assurance Engineer - County Durham

The successful candidate will also need to meet UK Security Clearance requirements.

The Opportunity

Copello are working with a growing technology business operating at the forefront of RF, microwave and satellite communications, supporting exciting programmes across the Space and Defence sectors.

Due to continued growth and a strong pipeline of major programme wins, our client is looking to appoint a Product Assurance Engineer to take ownership of product assurance and quality activities across complex space payload hardware.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a background in Product Assurance, Quality, Reliability or Manufacturing Engineering to work on highly technical products where quality, traceability and compliance are critical.

You'll work closely with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and programme teams, helping ensure products meet the demanding standards expected across the space industry.

The Role

As the Product Assurance Engineer, you'll be involved throughout the full product lifecycle, from early design and development through manufacturing, qualification and final customer delivery.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking the lead on product assurance activities across space payload and hardware programmes.
• Ensuring products and processes comply with relevant customer, regulatory and industry standards, including ECSS, ESA and NASA requirements.
• Working alongside engineering, manufacturing and test teams to ensure quality is built into products and processes from the outset.
• Supporting the selection, assessment and qualification of space-grade electronic components and materials.
• Reviewing and approving quality plans, manufacturing records, non-conformance reports and product release documentation.
• Driving root cause analysis and corrective/preventative actions where quality issues arise.
• Leading or contributing to Non-Conformance Review Boards (NRBs).
• Providing product assurance input into design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, customer meetings and programme gates.
• Tracking quality performance, process capability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintaining strong configuration control, product traceability and associated quality records.
• Supporting supplier quality activities, including material and process compliance.

What We're Looking For

We're keen to speak with candidates who have experience working in highly regulated engineering environments, ideally where product quality, reliability and compliance are central to the role.

You'll ideally bring:

• A degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Physics, Quality or a related discipline.
• Previous experience within Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Quality or Reliability Engineering.
• Experience working with complex electronic, RF, aerospace, defence or space products.
• A solid understanding of quality management systems, non-conformance processes and root cause analysis.
• Knowledge of electronic components, PCB manufacturing and aerospace/space soldering requirements.
• Familiarity with ECSS, ESA or NASA standards.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and programme teams.

Desirable Experience

It would be particularly beneficial if you have experience with:

• Satellite, payload or wider space programmes.
• AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Configuration management and product traceability.
• FMEA, risk management, qualification and acceptance testing.
• Supplier and/or customer audits.
• Working within aerospace or other safety- and quality-critical manufacturing environments