Quality Engineer

QUALITY ENGINEER

Location: Oxfordshire
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Pattern: Monday to Thursday
Hours: 7:15am–5:30pm
Shift: Days
Start Date: ASAP

5S Recruitment is working in partnership with an established global Tier 1 automotive manufacturer to recruit a Quality Engineer for its operation.

The company manufactures high-quality decorative interior and exterior components and assemblies for some of the world’s leading automotive brands. Its facility incorporates a range of specialist manufacturing processes, including printing, surface treatment, electronic assembly, adhesive application, component assembly, mechanical stamping and variable-data production.

This is a newly created position providing additional resource within the Quality department.

The role offers an excellent four-day working week, Monday to Thursday, with no routine requirement to work nights, weekends or bank holidays.

THE ROLE

This is a hands-on Quality Engineer position rather than a desk-based compliance role.

Working closely with Manufacturing, NPI, Commercial and Engineering teams, you will help ensure that products, processes and systems meet customer expectations and automotive industry standards.

You will also act as an important quality contact for customers and suppliers, using structured quality tools to resolve concerns, protect product conformity, reduce the cost of quality and deliver permanent improvements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Quality and Problem Solving

Take ownership of customer complaints and quality concerns, using a structured 8D approach to identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions.

Complete corrective actions arising from customer returns and ensure concerns are followed through to verified closure.

Become a key point of contact for customer-specific requirements, OEM systems and customer portals.

Maintain accurate quality documentation and produce clear, professional reports.

Visit customer and supplier sites when required to investigate and resolve quality issues.

New Product Introduction and APQP

Support feasibility studies and Bills of Materials where required.

Work with Commercial and Engineering teams to select appropriate materials.

Prepare and submit APQP and project-status reports to the NPI team.

Support sample builds and the introduction of major new projects.

Prepare complete PPAP documentation, including process flows, control plans, PFMEAs, MSA and SPC studies, dimensional and material results, AAR documentation, samples and IMDS submissions.

Liaise with customers, suppliers and internal teams throughout product development and initial manufacture.

Manufacturing and Supplier Quality

Provide hands-on quality support to the manufacturing operation.

Support the introduction and maintenance of product and aesthetic quality standards.

Evaluate existing manufacturing processes, identify weaknesses and implement practical improvements.

Liaise with suppliers and introduce supplier-development programmes where improvement is required.

Complete product testing and calibration studies on measuring equipment when required.

Quality Systems and Auditing

Help maintain the company’s Quality and Environmental Management Systems.

Conduct internal and external audits in line with agreed schedules.

Ensure working practices comply with IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 procedures.

Work with an awareness of ISO 27001 and TISAX information-security requirements.

Support shop-floor quality costing and performance measurements.

Use quality and business information to reduce waste and the overall cost of quality.

Identify and implement improved ways of working through the continuous-improvement system.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

* Previous Quality Engineering experience within automotive manufacturing or another demanding, highly regulated production environment.

* Good working knowledge of IATF 16949 and automotive quality tools.

* Practical experience of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC and 8D problem solving.

* Experience managing customer concerns, corrective actions and quality documentation from initial investigation through to permanent closure.

* The confidence to work directly with manufacturing teams, customers and suppliers at every level.

* Strong auditing, report-writing and communication skills.

* Good IT skills, including the ability to work with OEM customer portals.

* A practical and visible approach to quality, with the willingness to investigate problems at source.

THE PERSON

Our client is looking for someone with ambition, enthusiasm and genuine ownership.

You will need to communicate clearly, challenge constructively and remain methodical when pressure is high. The strongest candidates will combine sound automotive-quality knowledge with the drive to improve how things are done rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

WHY APPLY?

This is an opportunity to join an established global Tier 1 automotive manufacturer in a newly created position with genuine exposure to customers, suppliers, manufacturing and new-product introduction.

You will have the opportunity to influence both day-to-day product quality and the systems that underpin long-term performance, while benefiting from an attractive four-day, Monday-to-Thursday working week.

Please apply with an up-to-date CV. 5S Recruitment will provide further information about the opportunity and manage all applications in complete confidence
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed