Quality Engineering Lead

Viper Innovations Ltd; Portishead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Life assurance

Critical illness insurance

Contributory pension

Cycle to work / volunteering /electric

Hybrid & flexible working

Bonus Scheme

Job summary

Viper Innovations Ltd in Portishead is seeking a Quality Engineering Lead to join the Operations Engineering team. This hands-on leadership role oversees Quality Engineering and Quality Assurance across products, manufacturing processes and the supply chain, driving investigations and improvement activities while building a high performing quality function.

You will lead containment, root-cause analysis and corrective actions using 5 Whys and 8D, work with suppliers to prevent recurrence and

Qualifications

• Requires engineering qualification and relevant experience in quality/manufacturing/electronics.
• Experience leading quality investigations and NCR management.
• Knowledge of Quality Management Systems and conducting supplier/product/process audits.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and BOMs and work with cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical, reporting and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality engineering support across manufacturing, assembly, inspection and test.
• Lead containment and root-cause analysis using 5 Whys/8D; manage NCRs to closure.
• Support QA through audits and ensure processes are defined, controlled and improved.
• Develop quality planning, inspection strategies, and acceptance criteria; lead First Article Inspections.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve supplier performance.
• Utilise Cost of Quality data to drive continuous improvement and develop the team.

Skills

Quality engineering leadership

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Data analysis

Communication

Education

HND/HNC/BEng/MEng (engineering)

Tools

Audit techniques

FMEA

ISO 9001

Job description

Primary location: Portishead
Working hours: 37.5 hours (full-time)
Hybrid working available: Yes
Salary : Competitive

• Are you an experienced quality engineer ready to lead quality improvement in a growing engineering business?
• Do you enjoy solving complex product and manufacturing quality problems and preventing them from recurring?
• Would you like to develop a quality team and help build quality into electrical and electronic products, processes and suppliers?

Viper Innovations is a King’s Award-winning engineering technology company partnered with The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). We deliver advanced monitoring and asset integrity solutions that protect mission-critical electrical systems in subsea energy, rail, and industrial sectors worldwide.

The Role:

We are looking for a Quality Engineering Lead to join our Operations Engineering team. This hands-on leadership role spans Quality Engineering and Quality Assurance across our products, manufacturing processes and supply chain. You will lead investigations and improvement activities, develop the Quality Team and work across the business and with suppliers to prevent recurring issues and build quality into products and processes.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead quality engineering support across manufacturing, assembly, inspection and test, including product, component and process failure investigations.
• Lead containment, structured root-cause and corrective action using tools such as 5 Whys and 8D, progressing NCRs through to effective closure.
• Support Quality Assurance through process, product and supplier audits, ensuring operational processes are defined, controlled, followed and continually improved.
• Develop quality planning, inspection strategies and acceptance criteria; lead First Article Inspections and contribute to FMEA and engineering change verification.
• Work with Supply Chain and suppliers to resolve component, PCBA and assembly quality issues and improve supplier quality performance.
• Use FTY, rework, scrap and Cost of Quality data to drive continuous improvement, while leading cross-functional investigations and developing the Operations Engineering Quality Team.

What We Are Looking For:

• HND, HNC, BEng, MEng or equivalent qualification in a relevant engineering discipline, and/or demonstrable experience relevant to the role.
• Experience in a quality engineering, manufacturing engineering or electronics/electrical engineering environment.
• Practical experience of product or manufacturing investigations, structured root-cause analysis, corrective action and NCR management.
• Understanding of Quality Management Systems and Quality Assurance, including experience conducting or supporting product, process or supplier audits.
• Good understanding of electronic and/or electromechanical products and manufacturing processes, and the ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications and Bills of Materials.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills, with the ability to analyse quality data, write clear reports and collaborate across functions.

Desirable, but not essential:

• Experience of electronics manufacturing/PCBAs, supplier quality and ISO 9001.
• Knowledge of IPC standards, FAI, FMEA, SPC/process capability and/or formal auditor training.

What’s in it for You?

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to buy or sell 5 additional days)
• Life assurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Attractive contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme/volunteering scheme/electric car scheme available
• Hybrid & flexible working arrangements: We offer a balanced hybrid working model, with three days based in the office and two days working remotely. Our flexible working hours include core hours from 10am to 3pm, allowing employees to structure their start and finish times.
• Bonus Scheme to celebrate the company’s successes and individual performance

If you are passionate about quality engineering, solving complex problems and developing a preventative quality culture, and want to be part of an exciting and innovative team, we’d love to hear from you!

Note on Sponsorship:

We regret to inform you that at this time, we are unable to offer sponsorship for work authorisation for this role. Therefore, candidates must possess valid authorisation to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.

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