Product Assurance Lead

Central Employment; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Employment seeks a seasoned Product Assurance Lead to support technically complex programmes in the space sector. This hands-on role collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and programme teams from development through to manufacture and delivery.

You will embed product assurance, quality and compliance across the lifecycle, lead non-conformances with root-cause analysis and drive continuous improvement, including supplier quality and auditing activities in a highly

Qualifications

• Strong experience within Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience working within complex engineering or a highly regulated technical environment.
• Knowledge of quality management, non-conformance and corrective-action processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead Product Assurance activities across complex hardware programmes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant customer, quality and industry requirements.
• Embed Product Assurance throughout the product lifecycle with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Support selection, qualification and control of electronic components and materials.
• Review quality plans, technical documentation and manufacturing records.
• Lead investigation and resolution of non-conformances including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support design, manufacturing readiness and programme reviews.
• Ensure configuration control, traceability and documentation are maintained.
• Support supplier quality activities and engagement with external suppliers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement across Product Assurance and wider engineering processes.

Skills

Product Assurance

Quality Assurance

Quality Engineering

ECSS / ESA / NASA standards

AS9100 / ISO 9001

FMEA & risk management

Root cause analysis

Configuration control

Traceability & documentation

Supplier quality & auditing

Space/aerospace domain experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Our client is a growing advanced technology business developing high-performance electronic and communications systems for demanding applications across aerospace, defence, telecommunications and other mission-critical environments.

They are looking for an experienced Product Assurance Lead to support technically complex programmes within the space sector, ensuring that product assurance, quality and compliance requirements are embedded throughout the full product lifecycle.

This is a hands‑on role working closely with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and programme teams, supporting projects from development and qualification through to manufacture and customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Product Assurance activities across complex hardware programmes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant customer, quality and industry requirements.
• Work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to embed Product Assurance throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support the selection, qualification and control of electronic components and materials.
• Review quality plans, technical documentation and manufacturing records.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of non‑conformances, including root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support design, manufacturing readiness and programme reviews.
• Ensure appropriate configuration control, traceability and documentation are maintained.
• Support supplier quality activities and engagement with external suppliers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement across Product Assurance and wider engineering processes.
• Strong experience within Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience working within complex engineering or a highly regulated technical environment.
• Good understanding of quality management, non‑conformance and corrective‑action processes.
• Experience working across the product lifecycle alongside engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Strong understanding of configuration control, traceability and technical documentation.
• Good problem-solving and root‑cause analysis capability.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Previous experience within the space, aerospace, defence or advanced electronics sectors.
• Knowledge of ECSS, ESA or NASA requirements and standards.
• Experience working with electronic components, PCB assemblies or complex electronic hardware.
• Knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality environments.
• Experience with FMEA, risk management and qualification or acceptance testing.
• Supplier quality and auditing experience.
• Experience supporting customer or programme assurance reviews.
• Familiarity with high‑reliability or space‑grade electronic components.

Why Apply?

• Take a leading Product Assurance role supporting advanced technology and complex engineering programmes.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing and programme teams.
• Gain exposure to challenging projects within the space sector.
• Work across the full product lifecycle, from development and qualification through to delivery.
• Join a growing technical environment where Product Assurance plays an important part in programme delivery.
• Relocation support is available for candidates considering a move to the North East.

This opportunity would suit an experienced Product Assurance or Quality professional who enjoys working closely with engineering teams, solving complex technical challenges and taking ownership across high‑reliability programmes.