Quality Engineer

Jackie Kerr Recruitment; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days holiday

Job summary

Jackie Kerr Recruitment is assisting a specialist electronics company in Chippenham to recruit a Quality Engineer. You will own the quality function, combining PCB/component inspection with QMS ownership, supplier and customer quality, non-conformance management and audit readiness.

The role empowers you to make acceptance decisions, manage non-conformances, and drive improvements across goods-in, stores, and dispatch with manufacturing partners overseas. IC/IPC knowledge is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable working knowledge of ISO 9001 within a certified environment.
• Hands-on experience of PCB inspection or PCB assembly.
• Experience acting as a sole or lead quality resource, or deputising for one.
• Strong knowledge of non-conformance management, root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Experience investigating customer complaints and producing corrective action responses.
• Confident using MS Office and ERP or MRP systems.
• Knowledge of IPC acceptability standards, IPC-A-600/IPC-A-610 would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Inspect incoming printed circuit boards and components against IPC acceptability criteria and drawings.
• Make and record accept/reject/concession decisions and escalate where needed.
• Manage identification and quarantine of non-conforming material.
• Verify supplier quality documentation including test reports and CoCs.
• Maintain ISO 9001 QMS and ensure audit readiness.
• Plan and carry out internal audits and support external audits.
• Own customer complaints from investigation to closure with corrective actions.
• Manage supplier and manufacturing partner quality performance and non-conformances.
• Provide hands-on quality support across goods-in, stores and dispatch.

Skills

ISO 9001 knowledge

PCB inspection

Root cause analysis

MS Office

ERP/MRP systems

IPC standards knowledge

Supplier quality management

Audit coordination

Education

ISO 9001 Internal Auditor training

Tools

MS Office

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

We at JKR are supporting a specialist electronics company with the recruitment of a Quality Engineer to take ownership of the quality function at their Chippenham site.

This is a hands-on, operational quality role combining PCB and component inspection with ownership of the Quality Management System, supplier and customer quality, non-conformance management and audit readiness.

The successful Quality Engineer will have the authority to make accept, reject and release decisions, including holding shipments where required, while working closely with goods-in, stores, dispatch, purchasing and overseas manufacturing partners.

The Quality Engineer Role:

• Inspect incoming printed circuit boards and components against IPC acceptability criteria, customer requirements, drawings and specifications
• Make and record accept, reject and concession decisions, escalating where decisions fall outside delegated authority
• Manage the identification, segregation and quarantine of non-conforming material through to resolution
• Verify supplier quality documentation including test reports, microsection reports, Certificates of Conformity and material declarations
• Maintain the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ensuring procedures, work instructions and document control remain audit ready
• Plan and carry out the internal audit programme and host external certification, customer and third-party audits
• Own customer complaints and returns from investigation through to closure, including written corrective action responses
• Manage supplier and manufacturing partner quality performance, raising non-conformances and driving corrective actions to verified closure
• Maintain the approved supplier list, support new supplier approvals and conduct supplier audits where required
• Provide hands-on quality support across goods-in, stores and dispatch, including traceability, labelling, ESD control and moisture-sensitive device handling
• Support final quality release and ensure outgoing documentation, Certificates of Conformity and test data are complete and accurate
• Manage calibration of measuring and test equipment, maintaining the equipment register and recall schedule
• Report quality performance, trends and KPIs to the management team and support management review
• Support New Product Introduction, ensuring quality and acceptance requirements are understood before product is ordered
• Use non-conformance, supplier and customer feedback data to identify and implement practical quality improvements

The Quality Engineer Ideal Candidate:

• Demonstrable working knowledge of ISO 9001 within a certified environment
• Hands-on experience of printed circuit board inspection or PCB assembly
• Experience acting as a sole or lead quality resource, or deputising for one
• Strong knowledge of non-conformance management, root cause analysis and corrective action
• Experience investigating customer complaints and producing corrective action responses
• Confident using MS Office and ERP or MRP systems
• Knowledge of IPC acceptability standards, particularly IPC-A-600 and IPC-A-610, would be advantageous
• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor training and experience hosting external audits would be advantageous
• Formal root cause analysis training such as 8D, 5 Whys or Fishbone would be beneficial
• Experience managing overseas suppliers or manufacturing partners would be beneficial
• Knowledge of RF, HDI, multilayer or flex-rigid PCB constructions would be advantageous

The company will fund IPC certification for an otherwise suitable candidate who does not already hold it. A background in PCB assembly will also be considered equivalent to bare board inspection experience.

Quality Engineer Key Skills:

• Hands-on quality leadership and confident decision-making
• Strong attention to detail and a practical approach to quality
• Clear written and verbal communication with customers, suppliers and auditors
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of the quality function
• Strong problem-solving and continuous improvement skills
• Ability to build effective working relationships across operational teams

Working Hours & Benefits:

• 8.30am-5pm Monday-Thursday, 8.30am-1pm Fridays (36.5 hours per week)
• 25 days' holiday + Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme