Principal Quality Engineer

leonardo company; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company seeks a Principal Quality Engineer to contribute to innovative projects within a multicultural environment. You will lead quality planning, ensuring alignment with industry standards and compliance requirements while fostering collaboration across disciplines. This role offers an opportunity to be part of groundbreaking initiatives and a chance to develop professionally with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Generous leave including flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Mental health support and financial advice

Access to online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Flexible hours with hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quality engineering within aerospace or similar industries.
• Familiarity with AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards.
• Communication and collaborative skills with a focus on inclusivity.

Responsibilities

• Lead Advanced Product Quality Planning efforts during product development.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace and defence industry standards.
• Conduct quality audits and drive corrective actions.

Skills

APQP methodologies

Risk management

Root cause analysis

Quality management systems

Excellent communication

Collaboration

Education

Experience in quality engineering

Job description

Principal Quality Engineer page is loaded

Principal Quality Engineer

Apply locations GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300 time type Full time posted on Posted 4 Days Ago job requisition id R0010487

Job Description:

At Leonardo, we are proud to be part of the multinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), led by the UK, Japan, and Italy, developing the next generation of stealth fighter technology. We are seeking a passionate and experienced Principal Quality Engineer to join this exciting, ground-breaking initiative.

If you thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments and are motivated by innovation, quality, and making a real impact, we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to grow your career while contributing to an ambitious program that sets new standards for aerospace and defence.

Your Impact

• Lead Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) efforts to embed world-class quality standards throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support early Life Cycle Management (LCM) gate reviews, ensuring deliverables meet stringent quality and compliance requirements before project progression.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to fully understand and exceed quality expectations, fostering trust and alignment.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with aerospace and defence industry standards and relevant legal requirements.
• Collaborate across disciplines, including design, engineering, and program management, promoting a culture of quality and continuous improvement.
• Plan and conduct quality audits, identifying improvement opportunities and driving corrective actions.
• Work closely with international partners from the UK, Japan, and Italy to harmonise quality processes and share best practices globally.
• Support Software Quality Assurance (SQA) activities aligned with project needs and software development methodologies like Agile.

What you’ll bring:

• Significant experience in quality engineering, preferably within aerospace, defence, or similarly regulated industries.
• Strong expertise in APQP methodologies, New Product Introduction (NPI), risk management, and root cause analysis.
• Comprehensive understanding of quality management systems and standards such as AS9100 and ISO 9001.
• Familiarity with Software Quality Assurance practices and software development methods like Agile and Sprints.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting .

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

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

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

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Primary Location:

GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid

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International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know-how across the generations.

Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!