Quality Control Engineer

Balfour Beatty plc; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working

25 days annual leave

Pension

Share incentive plan

Volunteering leave

Recognition schemes

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is recruiting a Quality Control Engineer to oversee assurance activities across projects in Newcastle and the North East. You will coordinate QA across the supply chain, review ITPs, manage NCRs, and support FATs to ensure compliance with customer and industry standards.

You will contribute to continuous improvement, maintain Test and Inspection Plans, and travel across the UK as required to support project delivery and quality objectives.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of UK Transmission and Distribution standards.
• Experience with quality documentation and assurance processes.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Review supply chain Quality Plans and ITPs for compliance.
• Support project delivery in achieving quality deliverables.
• Develop Manufacturing Assurance Plans with risk-based interventions.
• Attend FATs and verify requirements.
• Carry out site-based QC inspections and NCR handling.

Skills

QA

Standards knowledge

Communication

Problem solving

Documentation

Teamwork

MS Office 365

Tools

MS Office 365

Quality management tools

Job description

About the role

Amazing infrastructure isn’t the only thing that gets built here. Incredible careers do too. Join Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution team as a Quality Control Engineer in Newcastle and help deliver critical infrastructure that powers communities across the region.

Please note this is a permanent, full time role and will require travel across the North East of England and occasionally traveling further across the UK.

Supporting the successful delivery of projects, this role is responsible for ensuring all works are carried out in line with customer requirements, stakeholder commitments, Balfour Beatty standards, external accreditations, and industry best practice.

You will play a key role in coordinating and managing assurance activities across the project lifecycle, ensuring compliance requirements are met and assurance-related issues are resolved efficiently. The position will support the preparation, submission, and management of quality and assurance documentation, including verification activities that demonstrate compliance with contractual and organisational requirements.

Working closely with project teams and the supply chain, you will help implement assurance procedures, review and manage submissions, and establish robust Test and Inspection Plans (ITPs) to support the safe and successful delivery of works. You will also contribute to driving a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring quality standards are maintained throughout project execution.

What you'll be doing

• Review and assess supply chain Quality Plans and Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), ensuring full compliance with customer and project requirements.
• Support project delivery teams in achieving quality-related deliverables, resolving supplied material issues, and providing quality guidance to supply chain partners where required.
• Develop and manage Manufacturing Assurance Plans, implementing risk-based intervention activities across the supply chain.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) to verify that all quality, technical, and contractual requirements have been met.
• Produce, maintain, and manage accurate records of Factory Acceptance Testing activities.
• Identify, control, and report non-conforming materials, raising Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) as required.
• Assist in root cause investigations and support the development and implementation of effective corrective action plans.
• Operate in accordance with Balfour Beatty's Business Management System, policies, and procedures.
• Support internal and external quality audits, ensuring compliance and promoting best practice.
• Contribute to the training, coaching, and development of quality awareness and capability across project teams, including sharing lessons learned.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance quality performance and assurance processes.
• Support investigations and reporting on quality-related issues, providing recommendations and actions where appropriate.
• Carry out site-based Quality Control inspections and checks to verify compliance with Balfour Beatty and client requirements.
• Undertake any additional duties necessary to support the successful delivery of the project.
• Demonstrate and promote the Balfour Beatty Values in all aspects of the role.
• Maintain a relentless focus on Zero Harm and Right First Time, ensuring safety and quality remain at the heart of project delivery.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for someone with a strong technical background and a passion for quality assurance within the transmission and distribution sector. You will ideally have:

• A solid understanding of UK Transmission and Distribution standards, legislation, and relevant IEC standards.
• Demonstrable knowledge of substation primary plant equipment ranging from 11kV to 400kV.
• Experience working with quality documentation and assurance processes within a technical or engineering environment.
• The ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Previous quality assurance experience and/or relevant operational or technical expertise within the industry.
• A strong understanding of Quality Management principles and their practical application.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to gather, evaluate, and interpret information effectively.
• A keen eye for detail and the ability to see tasks through to successful completion.
• Strong report-writing, documentation, and numeracy skills.
• Confidence to challenge existing processes and drive continuous improvement.
• The ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and other modern digital workplace technologies.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Flexibility to travel and work across the UK and internationally when required.

While not essential, the following qualifications and experience would be advantageous:

• ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor training or certification.
• Knowledge of Type Registration processes.
• Experience attending or conducting Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
• Previous operational experience within a substation environment.
• Understanding of Transmission and Distribution safety rules and industry requirements.
• Awareness of sector-specific certifications and compliance obligations.
• Experience using Digital Progressive Assurance systems and electronic quality management tools.
• Membership of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) at Practitioner level, or actively working towards Practitioner status.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]