Senior Quality Engineer

Chess Dynamics Ltd; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / flexible working

Job summary

Chess Dynamics Ltd. seeks a Senior Quality Engineer to lead governance and continual improvement of the Business Management System (BMS). You will act as the quality SME across programmes, guiding audits, root-cause analyses, and lifecycle gate reviews.

You will mentor Quality Engineers and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with BS EN ISO 9001 and regulatory requirements, while supporting external audits and customer contracts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing, implementing, and improving quality management systems within a design, development, and manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience managing audit programmes and conducting internal, customer, supplier, and third-party audits.
• Qualified to HNC/HND level or equivalent in an engineering-related discipline.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to guide teams and drive change.
• Expert knowledge of structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa, RCA).
• Excellent stakeholder management with customers, suppliers, and senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead governance, development, and continual improvement of the Business Management System (BMS).
• Provide SME guidance on quality management principles across the organisation.
• Support external audits, regulatory interactions, and compliance activities.
• Lead the internal audit programme and drive CAPAs.
• Oversee complex investigations into non-conformances and provide root-cause analyses.
• Provide quality leadership at design reviews, programme reviews, and lifecycle gate reviews.

Skills

Quality management

Audit management

Leadership

Root cause analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

HNC/HND in engineering

Job description

Role Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Quality, the Senior Quality Engineer will act as the Quality Subject Matter Expert (SME) for designated programmes and business areas, providing technical leadership, governance, and direction across the Business Management System (BMS). The role is responsible for leading continual improvement initiatives, driving quality performance, ensuring compliance with customer and regulatory requirements, and providing guidance, mentoring, and oversight to Quality Engineers and wider business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the governance, development, and continual improvement of the Business Management System (BMS), ensuring processes, procedures, work instructions, and controls remain effective, compliant with BS EN ISO 9001 and applicable regulatory requirements, and aligned to business and customer needs.
• Provide subject matter expertise on quality management principles, processes, and best practice across the organisation.
• Provide quality support and guidance to customers, fostering effective relationships and issue resolution, while assisting external audits, regulatory interactions, and compliance activities.
• Lead the internal audit programme, conducting audits, analysing trends, identifying systemic risks, and driving effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead complex investigations into product, process, system, customer-return, and field-related non-conformances, ensuring effective root cause analysis, corrective actions, and providing recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Provide quality leadership and independent assurance at design reviews, programme reviews, and lifecycle gate reviews, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Review customer contracts, specifications, and bid documentation, interpreting complex quality requirements.
• Mentor, coach, and provide day-to-day guidance to Quality Engineers and other business functions, supporting capability development and promoting a culture of quality excellence.
• Support the Quality Manager in defining quality strategy, objectives, and improvement roadmaps aligned to business goals.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience developing, implementing, and improving quality management systems within a design, development, and manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience managing audit programmes and conducting internal, customer, supplier, and third-party audits.
• Qualified to HNC/HND level or equivalent in an engineering-related discipline, with demonstrated professional experience in quality engineering and management.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to guide teams, challenge constructively, and drive organisational change.
• Expert knowledge and practical application of structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5 Whys, Ishikawa, RCA, and risk-based thinking.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, senior leaders, and functional teams.

Desirable

• Experience within a defence, aerospace, or highly regulated electro-mechanical manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge and practical application of quality standards ISO 9001, AQAP 2110, AQAP 2210, AS9100, ISO 27001, ISO 14001.
• Good health and safety awareness and practice, IOSH certificate.
• Experience in Design Assurance, Product Assurance, or Quality Assurance leadership roles.
• CQI Chartered Quality Professional status, CQI membership, IRCA Registered Auditor qualification, or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience leading teams, mentoring technical professionals, and driving cross-functional improvement programmes.

Work life balance:

• 37.5 hour working week
• Lunchtime finishes on a Friday
• Hybrid / flexible working arrangements
• 28 days annual leave
• Christmas closure
• Holiday purchasing scheme

Security Clearance Requirements:

Due to the nature of our business, our staff need to be able to obtain UK Security Clearance as a mandated requirement. Therefore, if successful, you will need to provide proof of identity, employment history and right to work in the UK, along with proof of UK residency for at least five years