Supplier Quality Engineer

Currock Engineering Company Limited; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible start/finish times

Profit-linked bonus scheme

Development opportunities

Company Sick Pay

Pension: 5% Employer, 5% Employee

Employee Assistance Programme

Free parking

Job summary

Currock Engineering Company Limited is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to strengthen supplier controls and drive performance in aerospace and defense components. This hands-on role involves supplier engagement, issue investigations, and closing corrective actions to meet drawing, specification, and EN AS 9100 requirements.

The candidate will audit suppliers, monitor performance, and lead root cause analyses to reduce non-conformances while collaborating with Purchasing, Engineering, and

Qualifications

• Previous experience in supplier quality, quality engineering or manufacturing quality.
• Experience in CNC machining, precision engineering, aerospace, defence or other highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of EN AS 9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Ability to interpret inspection reports and supplier quality documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and approve new suppliers per EN AS 9100 requirements.
• Plan supplier audits and perform surveillance.
• Monitor supplier quality using scorecards and KPIs.
• Lead investigations into supplier non-conformances and CAPAs.
• Manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests and closures.
• Verify effectiveness of corrective actions with suppliers.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Engineering to resolve issues.
• Support First Article Inspection and AS9102 where applicable.
• Oversee control of outsourced special processes.
• Maintain supplier quality records and assist Approved Supplier List decisions.

Skills

Quality engineering

Auditing

GD&T

Root cause analysis

Communication

Travel willingness

Problem solving

Tools

AS9100 knowledge

APQP/PPAP

PFMEA

CMM inspection

Job description

We are a dynamic and growing precision machining company specializing in high-tolerance components for the aerospace and defence sectors. Our reputation is built on engineering excellence, precision, and the ability to meet rigorous industry standards. As we continue to expand, we are seeking a motivated Supplier Quality Engineer to strengthen our supplier controls.

Position Summary:

The Supplier Quality Engineer is a newly created role and is responsible for strengthening supplier controls, improving supplier performance and ensuring externally provided products and processes consistently meet drawing, specification, customer, statutory, regulatory and EN AS 9100 requirements. This is a hands-on role involving direct engagement with suppliers, investigation of technical quality issues and the effective closure of corrective actions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate, qualify and approve new suppliers in accordance with company and EN AS 9100 requirements.
• Plan and conduct supplier audits, including initial approval, risk-based surveillance and performance-related audits.
• Monitor supplier quality performance using scorecards, KPIs, non-conformance trends and risk assessments.
• Drive investigations into supplier non-conformances, escapes and recurring quality issues.
• Raise and manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests, including review of root cause, containment and corrective action.
• Verify the effectiveness of supplier corrective actions and improvement plans.
• Work with suppliers to improve process capability, product conformity and delivery performance.
• Review supplier documentation, including process approvals, inspection reports, material certification and quality records.
• Ensure applicable drawing, specification, contractual, statutory and regulatory requirements are correctly flowed down to suppliers and sub-tier suppliers.
• Support First Article Inspection activities and review AS9102 documentation where applicable.
• Support the control of outsourced special processes such as heat treatment, surface treatment, painting, testing and non-destructive testing.
• Work closely with Purchasing, Engineering, Production and Inspection to resolve supplier-related issues.
• Support material review and concession activities involving externally supplied products.
• Maintain supplier quality records and contribute to Approved Supplier List decisions.
• Identify supplier-related risks and support improvement and cost-of-poor-quality reduction activities.
• Support customer, certification-body and internal audits when supplier controls are within scope.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Previous experience in supplier quality, quality engineering or manufacturing quality.
• Experience within CNC machining, precision engineering, aerospace, defence or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of EN AS 9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Good understanding of engineering drawings, tolerances, GD&T and manufacturing specifications.
• Experience conducting supplier or process audits.
• Practical knowledge of root cause analysis and corrective action methods, such as 5 Whys, Ishikawa and 8D.
• Experience managing non-conforming product and supplier corrective actions.
• Ability to interpret inspection reports, material certification and supplier quality documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to challenge suppliers constructively and drive actions to completion.
• Willingness to travel to supplier sites when required.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• Qualified Lead Auditor with membership or certification through a recognised quality organisation.
• Knowledge of AS9102 First Article Inspection.
• Understanding of special-process controls and accreditation requirements.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans or process-capability techniques.
• Familiarity with CMM inspection and precision measurement.
• Knowledge of aerospace product safety, counterfeit-part prevention and configuration control.

What We Offer:

• Flexible start/finish times and finish at lunchtime on a Friday
• Opportunity to participate in the bonus scheme linked to company profits and performance targets
• Opportunities for development and supportive team environment
• Company Sick Pay
• Pension: 5% Employer, 5% Employee (Defined Contribution)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free parking

Security Checks

Please note, you may be required to undergo Security Checks appropriate to your role.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and we will be happy to support you.