Senior Quality Engineer

Chess Dynamics; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group pension

Income protection

Wellbeing programme

Life assurance

Share incentive

EV salary sacrifice

Learning & development

Gym discounts

Recruitment referral bonus

Onsite parking

Job summary

Chess Dynamics in the United Kingdom is looking for a Senior Quality Engineer to act as the Quality SME for designated programmes, providing technical leadership across the Business Management System and driving continual improvement.

You will lead internal audits, complex investigations into non-conformances, and provide guidance at design reviews, while mentoring Quality Engineers and coordinating with customers and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing and improving quality management systems in design, development, and manufacturing.
• Experience managing audit programmes including internal, supplier, customer, and third-party audits.
• Qualified to HNC/HND level or equivalent in an engineering discipline with quality engineering experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the governance and continual improvement of the Business Management System (BMS).
• Provide SME guidance on quality management across programmes and business areas.
• Support audits, regulatory interactions, and compliance activities.
• Lead internal audit programme and drive corrective actions.
• Lead investigations into non-conformances and perform root cause analysis.
• Provide quality leadership at design, programme, and lifecycle reviews.
• Mentor Quality Engineers and other stakeholders.
• Help define quality strategy and improvement roadmaps.

Skills

Quality management systems

Audit programmes

Leadership

Root cause analysis

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

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.

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.

Essential

Skills & Experience

• 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.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrates our company values of Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence and Courage.
• Highly organised and methodical approach, with an eye for detail.
• A flexible, conscientious, and diligent attitude.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and written skills.
• A resilient and adaptable approach.
• Data driven, with strong analytical skills.
• Able to work on own initiative and facilitate effective cross functional cooperation.

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

Benefits

• Group pension plan – matched contributions up to 5%.
• Income protection scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme gives you and your family access to 4 key services including remote GP service, second opinion, mental health pathway service and physiotherapy consultations.
• Life assurance policy, including bereavement counselling and probate helpline.
• Company shares incentive plan and save as you earn scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
• Wellbeing initiatives, including access to wellbeing app and the addition of mental health support for all employees. Plus, regular activities across our sites to support and promote wellbeing.
• Regular sports and social activities.
• Gym membership discounts.
• Reward platform (high street discounts, employee benefits, health, and wellbeing offerings).
• Recruitment referral bonus scheme.
• Excellent learning & development opportunities.
• Great working environment with free, onsite car parking across all our locations.

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.