Quality Manager

Red Chilli Recruitment; Southampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Company pension & sick scheme

Phone provided

Real career progression

Seat at the table — critical role

Job summary

An established mechanical engineering firm in Southampton is seeking a Quality Manager specialized in pipework and pressure vessels. The ideal candidate will ensure compliance and maintain quality standards for projects across various industries. You will take ownership of the quality function and lead audits while working closely with workshop teams. A competitive benefits package includes 25 days holiday, pension scheme, and genuine career progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• Strong background in pipework fabrication and pressure vessel manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with ASME B31.3.
• Experience from a workshop/fabrication SME is ideal.
• Experience from a workshop / fabrication SME is ideal.
• Working knowledge of ASME VIII, PD5500, welding standards, ITPs and QA systems.
• Confident producing documentation, reviewing drawings, and ensuring code compliance on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of contact for all QA across the business.
• Ensure strict compliance to pipework and pressure vessel codes.
• Lead internal and supplier audits to ISO 9001 / ISO 45001.
• Leading internal and supplier audits to ISO 9001 / ISO 45001.
• Providing technical input on welding standards (ASME IX / BS 15614), materials, design and fabrication.
• Supporting the workshop teams to ensure projects are delivered right-first-time.
• Investigating quality issues and driving root-cause corrective actions.

Skills

Pipework fabrication experience

Hands-on ASME B31.3 experience

Understanding of PED, CE/UKCA, CPR

Knowledge of ISO 9001 / ISO 45001

Confident with documentation and code compliance

CE/UKCA

CPR compliance

ISO 9001 / ISO 45001 audits

Welding standards

Documentation & ITPs

Job description

Overview

Quality Manager – Pipework & Pressure Vessels (ASME B31.3 / PED / CPR)

Are you the go-to person for pipework and pressure vessel compliance? Do you live and breathe ASME B31.3, ASME VIII, PED, CE/UKCA, and CPR… and actually enjoy being out on the workshop floor making sure standards are nailed every single time?

We’re representing an established, hands-on SME mechanical engineering firm working across large oil & gas, petrochemical, utlilites etc. They deliver high-integrity fabrication projects to seriously tight deadlines, and their reputation is built on quality, compliance, and doing things properly.

We’re looking for a Quality Assurance Manager who genuinely understands what “good” looks like in a pipework and pressure vessel fabrication environment, and who isn’t afraid to take ownership of the quality function end-to-end.

What You’ll do

• Acting as the single point of contact for all QA across the business.
• Ensuring strict compliance to pipework and pressure vessel codes including ASME B31.3, ASME VIII, PD5500.
• Maintaining and developing technical files, ITPs, CE/UKCA/PED compliance and CPR documentation.
• Leading internal and supplier audits to ISO 9001 / ISO 45001.
• Providing technical input on welding standards (ASME IX / BS 15614), materials, design and fabrication.
• Supporting the workshop teams to ensure projects are delivered right-first-time.
• Investigating quality issues and driving root-cause corrective actions.

What You MUST Bring

We’re being very direct on this — if you don’t have these, this role won’t be the right fit:

• Strong background in pipework fabrication and pressure vessel manufacturing
• Hands-on experience with ASME B31.3
• Solid understanding of PED, CE/UKCA, CPR and related compliance requirements
• Experience from a workshop / fabrication SME is ideal
• Working knowledge of ASME VIII, PD5500, welding standards, ITPs and QA systems
• Confident producing documentation, reviewing drawings, and ensuring code compliance on the shop floor

What’s In It For You?

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Company pension & sick scheme
• Phone provided
• Real career progression in a growing business
• A respected seat at the table — this role is critical to their operation
• A genuinely varied workload across multiple industries

Apply now and become a central part of a business that values engineering excellence, accountability, and people who get things done.