Quality Engineer, Machining

Vatn Systems; Bristol; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Vatn is seeking a Quality Engineer (Machining) focused on hardware inspection to lead inspection strategy, GD&T guidance, and CMM programming in the shop environment. You will ensure tight tolerances, review drawings, and drive measurement improvements for in-house and supplier parts.

You will collaborate with machinists and mechanical engineers to align designs with manufacturing capability and support increasing production rates through robust quality processes.

Qualifications

• Expertise in GD&T and real-world shop-floor inspection.
• Experience programming and operating CMMs.
• Experience with precision machined components and tight tolerances.
• Hands-on inspection with a wide array of measurement tools.
• Ability to confidently interpret engineering drawings.
• Experience defining, scaling, or improving inspection processes for production.

Responsibilities

• Develop robust inspection plans for complex machined parts, including First Article Inspections and high-volume production sampling strategies.
• Perform comprehensive inspections on in-house manufactured components and outsourced hardware from external suppliers.
• Program and operate CMM and other measurement systems to inspect high-complexity components.
• Define measurement approaches for tight tolerance features.
• Establish and document repeatable measurement methods across production runs.
• Review engineering drawings prior to release to identify tolerance stack risks, unclear/conflicting GD&T, and manufacturability issues.
• Provide GD&T guidance to the mechanical engineering team.
• Translate design intent into practical inspection and manufacturing requirements.
• Document non-conformances and out-of-tolerance conditions on outsourced parts, providing clear and actionable inspection data to drive vendor corrective actions.
• Define in-process inspection requirements within machining workflows.
• Advise and train CNC Operators on proper techniques for manual, in-process hand inspections.
• Identify and resolve sources of shop-floor variation, including tool wear, setup variability, and process instability.
• Lead root cause analysis for out-of-tolerance conditions on the floor.
• Establish tactical, machining-focused quality processes from the ground up (gauge control, inspection frequency, documentation standards).
• Interface collaboratively with the broader Quality organization, who handles overarching product QMS.

Skills

GD&T expertise

CMM programming

Shop-floor inspection

Drawing interpretation

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Machining knowledge

Tools

Zeiss CMMs

Calypso

Job description

As a Quality Engineer (Machining) focused on hardware inspection, you will serve as the dedicated measurement and inspection authority for precision machined hardware, both produced in-house and outsourced to suppliers. You will own the development and execution of quality processes for the shop, including inspection strategy, CMM programming, and providing critical engineering feedback. This role operates directly within the machine shop environment rather than our broader QMS team. You will bridge the gap between machining and mechanical engineering to ensure part designs, tolerances, and inspection methods align with true manufacturing capabilities and support our rapidly increasing production rates.

Primary Responsibilities:

Inspection & Measurement

• Develop robust inspection plans for complex machined parts, including First Article Inspections and high-volume production sampling strategies
• Perform comprehensive inspections on both in-house manufactured components and outsourced hardware from external suppliers
• Program and operate CMM and other measurement systems to inspect high-complexity components
• Define measurement approaches for tight tolerance features
• Establish and document repeatable measurement methods across production runs

Engineering & Supply Chain Interface

• Review engineering drawings prior to release to identify tolerance stack risks, unclear/conflicting GD&T, and manufacturability issues
• Provide GD&T guidance to the mechanical engineering team
• Translate design intent into practical inspection and manufacturing requirements
• Document non-conformances and out-of-tolerance conditions on outsourced parts, providing clear and actionable inspection data to the Quality team to drive vendor corrective actions

Process Quality

• Define in-process inspection requirements within machining workflows
• Advise and train CNC Operators on proper techniques for manual, in-process hand inspections
• Identify and resolve sources of shop-floor variation, including tool wear, setup variability, and process instability
• Lead root cause analysis for out-of-tolerance conditions on the floor

System Buildout

• Establish tactical, machining-focused quality processes from the ground up (gauge control, inspection frequency, documentation standards)
• Interface collaboratively with the broader Quality organization, who handles overarching product QMS

Required Skill

• Expertise in GD&T with a strong focus on real-world application for shop-floor inspection and machining
• Experience programming and operating Coordinate Measuring Machines
• Extensive experience with precision machined components and tight-tolerance hardware
• Hands-on inspection experience using a wide array of measurement tools
• Ability to confidently interpret engineering drawings
• Experience defining, scaling, or improving inspection processes for production
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills
• Experience working directly with machinists to define inspection and process controls

Preferred Skills

• Experience specifically with Zeiss CMMs and Calypso software
• Familiarity with multi-axis CNC machining
• Experience evaluating supplier FAIs and partnering with procurement/supply chain teams to resolve quality issues
• Experience bridging mechanical engineering and manufacturing teams

Vatn is an equal opportunity employer.