Ampthill, Bedfordshire | Hybrid Working | 4-Day Week
Salary: Circa £50,000 + Benefits
Our client, a leading organisation operating within a highly regulated engineering and manufacturing environment, is seeking an experienced Lead Auditor to support a critical AS9100 Rev D re-certification programme.
This is an excellent opportunity for a quality professional with strong auditing expertise to play a key role in ensuring compliance, driving continuous improvement, and supporting a major certification audit within a complex engineering business.
The Opportunity
Joining an established Quality team, you will be responsible for assessing current quality management systems, identifying compliance gaps, and driving audit readiness activities across the business. You will work closely with operational stakeholders, process owners, and senior management to ensure successful preparation and delivery of the AS9100 Rev D re-certification audit.
This position offers a unique opportunity to make an immediate impact while working within a collaborative and technically advanced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Management & Compliance
Conduct detailed gap analysis against AS9100 Rev D requirements
Identify areas of non-compliance and develop prioritised corrective action plans
Review quality documentation and records to ensure regulatory compliance
Support continuous improvement initiatives across quality systems
Audit Planning & Delivery
Develop and execute internal audit programmes covering processes, products, and management systems
Create audit plans and checklists aligned to AS9100 standards
Conduct audits through interviews, document reviews, and on-site assessments
Evaluate the effectiveness and compliance of business processes
Non-Conformance & Corrective Actions
Raise and manage Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs)
Lead root cause investigations using recognised methodologies
Implement and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs)
Track actions through to successful closure
Stakeholder Management
Partner with operational teams and process owners to resolve audit findings
Provide guidance on quality and compliance requirements
Support teams in implementing process improvements
Reporting & Audit Readiness
Monitor progress against audit readiness plans
Present audit status updates, risks, and improvement activities to leadership teams
Support preparation for external certification audits
Essential Experience
Strong working knowledge of AS9100 Revision D
Proven experience as a Lead Auditor
Background working within a regulated manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, defence, or similar environment
Experience conducting internal and external audits
Strong understanding of quality management systems
Demonstrable experience managing NCRs, root cause analysis, and CAPA activities
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Desirable Experience
Lean and/or Six Sigma certification
Experience within aerospace, defence, or complex engineering sectors
What's on Offer?
6-month fixed-term contract with potential for longer-term opportunities
Hybrid working arrangement
Excellent work-life balance with a 4-day working week (Monday-Thursday)
Opportunity to contribute to a high-profile certification programme
Collaborative and supportive team environment
Security clearance will be required for this role, however the client is willing to put someone through it after they start
Salary description
£45000.00 - £55000.00 per year