Supplier Quality Engineer

Syos Aerospace; Fareham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SYOS designs and manufactures advanced uncrewed systems and is building a new UK production facility. We seek a Supplier Quality Engineer to own supplier quality, incoming inspection, and PPAP processes across diverse components.

You will qualify and onboard suppliers, lead audits, and ensure conformity to EN 9145 and EN 9102, enabling scalable, high-quality production. The role requires hands-on quality expertise, strong supplier influence, and travel within the UK and internationally to uphold

Qualifications

• Experience in supplier quality within aerospace/defence or regulated manufacturing.
• Hands-on PPAP/APQP with PFMEA, process flows and control plans.
• Experience with EN/AS 9102 First Article Inspection.
• Ability to lead supplier audits and drive corrective actions.
• Knowledge of GD&T, dimensional inspection and CMM operations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management; willingness to travel.
• BPSS baseline security requirement.

Responsibilities

• Assess, approve and onboard suppliers using a risk-based approach; conduct supplier audits UK and internationally.
• Manage supplier PPAP from start to finish in line with EN 9145; lead First Article Inspection to EN 9102.
• Establish and manage incoming inspection processes, sampling plans, and CMM qualification.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, traceability, certification and export control obligations.
• Qualify risk-critical supplier processes; manage supplier change notifications and repeat PPAP.
• Lead supplier corrective actions and root cause investigations; manage nonconformances to closure.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering and Production to resolve supplier issues and support transfers.

Skills

Supplier quality

PPAP & APQP

First Article Inspection

Audits & CAPA

Special processes

GD&T & CMM

SCAR & RCA

Communication

Travel readiness

BPSS requirement

Advantageous: aerospace experience

Advantageous: NADCAP familiarity

Job description

Build the Future of Autonomous Systems

SYOS designs and manufactures advanced uncrewed systems across air, land, sea and subsurface. We combine intelligent engineering, AI-driven autonomy and innovative design to create next-generation vehicles operating in some of the world's most challenging environments.

Our mission is to extend human capability, protect people and deliver operational advantage through accessible, scalable and intelligent autonomous technology.

We're looking for a Supplier Quality Engineer to join the founding Quality team at our new UK production facility. This is an opportunity to establish and develop supplier quality processes as we scale production and build a global supply chain supporting our advanced autonomous systems.

About the role

As Supplier Quality Engineer, you'll take ownership of supplier quality and incoming inspection, working across a diverse supply base covering machined components, castings, composites, electronics and other specialist parts. You'll play a key role in qualifying and onboarding suppliers, managing production part approval processes (PPAP), leading supplier audits and ensuring components meet the required quality standards before entering production.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can combine strong technical quality expertise with the ability to influence suppliers, solve problems and keep production moving without compromising standards.

What you'll be doing

• Assess, approve and onboard suppliers using a risk-based approach, conducting supplier process and product audits in the UK and internationally.
• Manage supplier PPAP from start to finish in line with EN 9145, review supporting quality documentation and lead supplier First Article Inspection to EN 9102.
• Establish and manage incoming inspection processes, including sampling plans, inspection technician coordination, and the introduction and qualification of the site's CMM capability.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, traceability, certification, counterfeit prevention and applicable contractual requirements, including relevant export control obligations.
• Qualify risk-critical supplier processes, manage supplier change notifications and determine when repeat PPAP or First Article Inspection is required.
• Lead supplier corrective actions and root cause investigations, manage nonconformances through to verified closure, and use supplier scorecards to drive continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Engineering and Production to resolve supplier issues, qualify alternative sources, support production transfers and maintain accurate, accessible supplier quality records.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced Supplier Quality Engineer who is confident working with suppliers, technically thorough and comfortable taking ownership of complex quality issues. You'll ideally have:

• Supplier quality engineering experience within aerospace, defence, automotive or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with PPAP and APQP, including reviewing supplier PFMEAs, process flows, Control Plans, measurement system analysis and capability data.
• Experience with supplier First Article Inspection, ideally to EN/AS 9102.
• Experience planning, conducting and reporting supplier process and product audits, including following findings through to closure.
• Knowledge of special processes, particularly machining, castings, heat treatment, coatings, composites or non-destructive testing (NDT).
• Experience with dimensional inspection, GD&T and CMM operation or programming.Strong understanding of supplier corrective action and structured root cause analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to challenge suppliers and drive effective corrective action.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally.
• Ability to meet Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) requirements.

It would be advantageous if you also have:

• Aerospace, defence or uncrewed systems supply chain experience.
• Familiarity with AS9100, AQAP 2110 or AQAP 2310.
• Casting or foundry supplier qualification experience.
• Experience with composite materials or electronics suppliers.
• Familiarity with NADCAP accreditation and audits.
• Awareness of export controls, including ITAR and EAR.
• ISO 9001 or AS9100 Lead Auditor qualifications.
• Experience establishing an incoming inspection function or commissioning a CMM.

Why join SYOS?

This is an opportunity to help shape the supplier quality function at a growing UK production facility, with the chance to influence how we qualify suppliers, manage quality risks and scale our manufacturing operations. You'll work at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and quality, helping ensure the components and materials entering production meet the standards required for reliable, high-performance autonomous systems.

At SYOS, we value collaboration, integrity, delivery and continuous improvement. We want people who take ownership, challenge constructively and find practical solutions to complex problems.

If you're a Supplier Quality Engineer who enjoys building strong supplier relationships, improving quality at the source and helping bring innovative technology to life, we'd love to hear from you.