Do you have a track record of improving product quality, leading Quality Engineering teams and using data and structured problem-solving to eliminate recurring defects?
We're supporting a leading aerospace manufacturing business in Fareham who are looking for a Product Quality Manager to join their Quality team.
This is a genuine product-focused Quality position where you'll lead Quality Engineering across the complete product lifecycle – from suppliers and NPI through manufacture, delivery and customer experience.
What's the role all about?
As the Product Quality Manager, you'll lead the Quality Engineering team and take ownership of improving product quality throughout the business.
Your focus will be on preventing defects rather than simply reacting to them.
You'll analyse where quality issues are occurring, understand the root cause and work closely with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Inspection and suppliers to put sustainable improvements in place.
You'll also take ownership of operational customer quality issues, supplier quality performance and non-conformance, while helping the business reduce its Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
What will you be doing?
Lead and develop the Quality Engineering team
Manage workload, priorities, performance and development across the team
Set and monitor departmental objectives and Quality KPIs
Drive improvements in product quality across the complete product lifecycle
Analyse Quality performance by customer, product family, part number, process and defect type
Identify dominant product risks and implement targeted improvement activity
Reduce Cost of Poor Quality through defect prevention and structured improvement
Lead Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) activity
Drive effective use of PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC and process capability
Own operational customer Quality including complaints, escapes, returns and containment
Lead 8D investigations and ensure corrective actions eliminate recurrence
Manage customer Quality metrics and corrective action commitments
Lead customer-facing Product Quality responses and reviews
Manage supplier Product Quality including SCARs, RCCA, surveillance and supplier development
Work closely with Procurement to improve supplier Quality performance
Monitor and improve operational non-conformance including NCR ageing and recurrence
Represent Quality within Material Review Board (MRB) activity
Embed Quality Engineering within NPI and APQP
Support product and process changes, supplier readiness, FAIR readiness and production readiness
Coordinate Quality priorities with Inspection and FAIR teams
Escalate significant product conformity, regulatory, customer or safety risks where necessary
Deputise for the Quality Manager when required
What do you need?
We're looking for someone with:
4–6 years' Quality Engineering experience within aerospace or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
At least 2–3 years' experience leading Quality Engineers
HNC/HND in Engineering or Quality, or equivalent relevant experience
Working knowledge of AS9100
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Strong Product Quality Engineering experience
Excellent understanding of RCCA / 8D
Experience with PFMEA and Control Plans
Knowledge of MSA, SPC and process capability
Strong experience managing non-conformance and MRB activity
Ability to confidently interpret engineering drawings
Experience analysing Quality data and using it to drive improvement
Strong customer and supplier Quality experience
Confidence leading cross-functional Quality improvement activity
Desirable
It would also be beneficial if you have:
Degree in Engineering or Quality
AS9100 Internal or Lead Auditor qualification
AS9102 FAIR experience
AS9145 APQP experience
Part 21G knowledge
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Minitab experience
Experience delivering Lean or operational transformation projects
About you
You'll be someone who believes Quality should be built into the process rather than inspected into the product.
You'll be data-driven, commercially aware and confident challenging existing processes when the evidence shows something needs to change.
You'll be:
A strong and credible people leader
Customer-focused
Analytical and data-driven
Tenacious when solving recurring problems
Comfortable holding others accountable for actions
An effective coach and trainer
Confident working across Engineering, Production and Supply Chain
Able to communicate effectively at all levels
Passionate about continuous improvement
Most importantly, you'll have the technical Quality knowledge to understand why defects are happening and how to prevent them happening again.
The details
Role: Product Quality Manager
Location: Fareham
Department: Quality
Contract: Permanent
Environment: Aerospace / Regulated Manufacturing
Team: Quality Engineering
Interested?
If you're an experienced Product Quality Manager, Quality Engineering Manager, Senior Quality Engineer or Aerospace Quality Manager looking for an opportunity where you can genuinely influence product quality and drive improvement, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today or contact Kingdom People for a confidential discussion.
Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy
Salary description
£58000.00 - £63000.00 per year