Quality Engineer (Technical Automotive experience required)

Kia UK; Walton-on-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Employee Car Scheme

Onsite lunch

Private Medical Care

Annual Health Checks

Private Dental Care

Pension with enhanced employer contrib

Life Assurance

24 days Annual Leave

Wellness benefits

Cycle to work / eye tests

Weekly yoga, sports clubs

Job summary

Kia UK Head Office in Walton-on-Thames is seeking a skilled automotive technical specialist. You will support dealer partners, diagnostics, and quality investigations while collaborating with After Sales, Product Marketing, and external suppliers across the UK. This role offers travel across the UK and overseas as needed.

The position develops project management and stakeholder engagement skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality technical information and timely literature updates.

Qualifications

• Automotive technical qualifications and strong vehicle knowledge.
• Experience with diagnostic systems and service processes.
• Ability to communicate effectively with dealers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical information, diagnostics and quality investigations.
• Support launch of new models with literature, tools and event prep.
• Collaborate with After Sales, Product Marketing, Press & PR and suppliers.
• Produce high-standard quality reports and respond to product concerns.
• Assist dealers with training requirements and literature access.
• Coordinate with global teams to improve tools and literature.

Skills

High level of vehicle technical knowl

OEM Diagnostic equipment

Sound analysis capabilities

Effective communication

Education

Automotive Technical Qualifications, e.g. City & Guilds, IMI

Job description

Welcome to Kia UK!

About Us

Kia UK is a leading automotive brand offering one of the industry’s largest range of models across multiple vehicle segments and was the third most popular UK car brand in 2025. With 190 Kia Dealers across the country, Kia is now widely known for its advanced electrified products offering the technology of tomorrow, today. Spearheading this charge are award-winning products including the fully electric EV6 – Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the 2024 World Car of the Year the EV9 and the electric compact SUV and World Car of the Year 2025 the EV3.

Kia UK has consistently grown for over 30 years, supported by bold design, quality products and ever-evolving customer service. By 2027, the brand aims to offer no less than nine fully electric vehicles in the UK, a positive step towards becoming a leading global sustainable mobility solutions provider.

People are central to Kia UK and every day is an opportunity to learn something new and to grow personally and professionally. This was recognised with Kia UK named as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2024, 2025 and 2026 by Great Place To Work®, and also ranked in the 2025 & 2026 Best Workplaces™ for Women, Development, Wellbeing, and Manufacturing, Production & Transportation. Kia employees reported positively on areas such as working atmosphere, trust in management, corporate strategy, pride in working for the company, benefits, facilities and much more!

The Role

This varied role will support Kia UK, our dealer partners and suppliers with technical information, diagnostics, quality investigations and product launches. The successful candidate will take ownership of several important functions and projects. Working collaboratively with colleagues across all After Sales teams, Product Marketing, Press & PR, Mobis (our parts supplier) and BCA (our vehicle logistics and services provider), you will help support the business with technical expertise and automotive knowledge.

The role provides an excellent opportunity to broaden after sales and technical experience together with strengthening your project management and stakeholder engagement skills. This role involves travel across the UK and occasionally overseas.

Responsibilities

• Ensure excellent dealer support services are in place, including special tools, diagnostic equipment, service and technical literature and information (to include existing and new models where appropriate).
• Ensure technical/product information is produced to a high standard and distributed promptly.
• Provide service/after sales support for new dealers to ensure familiarity with Kia diagnostic systems, Special Service Tools & after sales processes and policies.
• Support the launch of new models by ensuring vehicles are prepared to the highest standard and provide onsite event support.
• Assist in setup and preparation of vehicles for major KUK events (dealer conferences, etc.)
• Work with operational teams to provide short, medium and long term solutions for relevant product concerns identified by management information and customer feedback.
• Effectively support Dealers, Customer Services, Technical Support, Warranty Support, Press & PR and Marketing with information on relevant issues.
• Ensure correct special tooling, diagnostic equipment, service & technical literature and information is available for all dealers.
• Provide product concern investigation services and field fix solutions.
• Liaison with EASO (Kia Europe’s automotive safety function), KEU (Kia Europe), KHQ (Kia Head Quarters), KaSK (Kia Slovakia), EUQC (European Quality function), HMETC (Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre) and relevant suppliers to continuously improve and enhance special tools, diagnostic equipment, technical literature and product quality.
• Support the launch of new models by ensuring technical literature, service schedule information and special tools are available.
• Provide information to Training Department / Kia Academy to identify technical training requirements for dealer technicians, new technology, diagnostic equipment and special tools.
• Ensure Quality Reports & Quality Issue Reports are produced to a high standard and manufacturer targets are achieved.
• Provide support to other after sales teams during busy periods.

About You

Education

• Automotive Technical Qualifications, e.g. City & Guilds, IMI

Skills

• High level of vehicle technical knowledge
• OEM Diagnostic equipment expertise
• Sound analysis capabilities
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, internally and externally

Experience

• Desirable experience working at an automotive manufacturer/importer level
• Vehicle preparation and testing
• Producing high-quality technical reports
• Vehicle launch processes and requirements
• Vehicle forensic / accident investigation

The Benefits

Flexible working hours (core hours between 10:00am-3:00pm)

Hybrid working (up to 2 days a week remote working pro rata)

Employee Car Scheme (car lease + insurance all included from £85/month)

Onsite Chef -> free lunch every day

Private Medical Care (Vitality)

Annual Health Checks and free flu jabs offered onsite

Private Dental Care (Denplan, £0 excess)

Pension with enhanced employer contribution

Life Assurance

24 days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays

Wellness benefits including cycle to work scheme, free eye tests, employeeassistance programme, Mental Health First Aiders and more

Financial hub providing free financial guidance and support

Work from anywhere for one week a year

Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave (up to 6 months full pay)

Enhanced Paternity Leave (up to 4 weeks full pay)

Free weekly yoga, football, and badminton clubs

Pool tables, dart board, and massage chairs onsite

Opportunity to get involved & give back via our charity partners

Birthday Vouchers

Celebrations such as our Christmas party, summer event, Social Club and much more!

Location/Travel

The Kia UK Head Office is based in Walton-on-Thames, just a 5-minute walk from the station. We also have plenty of on-site parking for drivers, including EV charging ports.

There is step-free access throughout the building, but please let us know if you require any additional accessibility support and we will cater to your needs as best we can.

Interview Process

Step 1: CV review

Step 2: Teams interview

Step 3: Face-to-face interview

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We understand that every candidate is unique, and we welcome the opportunity to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all individuals can fully participate in our interview process. If you require any adjustments or support to facilitate your interview, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are happy to discuss your needs and make arrangements that support your participation to best showcase your skills and qualifications.

At Kia, we are committed to employing the best-qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and thereby not discriminating against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief or disability.