Senior Supplier Quality Specialist

Babcock International; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence and engineering company is seeking a Senior Supplier Quality Specialist to enhance supplier quality assurance and drive continuous improvement. The role offers significant opportunities to develop expertise in complex supply chains while contributing to projects crucial for national security. Candidates should have a Level 5 qualification in a relevant discipline and quality management experience within an engineering context, ensuring compliance and improving processes across the supply chain. This position provides hybrid working options.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme with life assurance

Access to a Digital GP and health check through Aviva DigiCare+

Employee share scheme

Employee shopping savings portal

Payment of Professional Fees

10-days special paid leave for reservists

Holiday Trading allowing to buy or sell leave

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering leave

Flexible working options

Dynamic working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in quality management and engineering.
• Proficient in lean methodologies and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct effective quality investigations.

Responsibilities

• Audit suppliers on-site to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Approve supplier documentation and oversee special process approvals.
• Lead investigations into non-conformance and implement corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure product conformity throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Quality Management experience within an engineering environment

Lean and continuous improvement principles

Conducting quality investigations

Education

Relevant Level 5 qualification in engineering/scientific discipline

Level 4 qualification

Job description

Job Title: Senior Supplier Quality Specialist

Location: Hybrid, UK (Midlands/South West preferred)

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF70244

Shape supplier excellence that powers defence, aerospace, and engineering.

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Senior Supplier Quality Specialist at any of our main UK locations (although Midlands / South West preferred).

We value difference and inclusion, and we’re committed to creating an environment where everyone is supported to thrive and grow

The role

As a Senior Supplier Quality Specialist, you’ll take the lead on supplier quality assurance and continuous improvement across our Group Procurement and Supply Chain function. It’s a role with real impact, offering scope to build your expertise across complex engineering supply chains while developing your career in a performance‑driven, inclusive organisation.

Day-to-day, you’ll raise standards, reduce risk and drive “right‑first‑time” delivery of mission‑critical goods and services contributing to projects that protect national security and public infrastructure.

• Audit suppliers on site to verify compliance with contractual and quality requirements and support effective flow‑down of those requirements.
• Approve supplier documentation (e.g., Inspection & Test Plans), witness control points and oversee special process approvals and source releases.
• Lead investigations into non‑conformance, identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions that stick.
• Drive lean and continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to optimise quality, cost, delivery and schedule performance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure product conformity and robust assurance throughout the lifecycle.

This role is full time, 37.5 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with days in the office and days working from home.

Essential experience of the Senior Supplier Quality Specialist

• Quality Management experience within an engineering environment.
• Proficient in the application of lean and continuous improvement principles.
• Proficient in conducting quality investigations.

Qualifications for the Senior Supplier Quality Specialist

• Relevant Level 5 qualification or demonstrable experience in a relevant engineering/scientific discipline and a Level 4 qualification.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows the majority of employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Flexible working – we give people more options to better integrate their work and personal life, whilst ensuring that business needs are met
• A dynamic working environment

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 09/01/2026