Quality Engineering Lead

Quality Engineering Lead
Location: Ampthill, Bedfordshire
Permanent | 37.5 Hours | Four-Day Working Week (Monday-Thursday)
Aerospace & Defence
Shape the Future of Quality Engineering
Quality isn't just about compliance—it's about building confidence into every product, every process and every programme.
TXM Recruit is partnering with a leading UK defence engineering organisation to recruit an experienced Quality Engineering Lead. This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-performing Quality Engineering function, driving excellence across New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing and continuous improvement within a highly regulated environment.
If you're passionate about developing people, improving processes and influencing quality strategy, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact across multiple mission-critical defence programmes.
The Opportunity
As the Quality Engineering Lead, you'll provide functional leadership to the Quality Engineering team while taking ownership of the Quality Engineering framework across the business. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Programme Management and Operations, you'll ensure quality processes remain robust, efficient and aligned with business objectives while supporting the successful delivery of new and existing defence programmes. You'll be responsible for embedding best practices, developing your team, and driving continuous improvement across the entire product lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and develop the Quality Engineering team across multiple business areas.
* Own and continuously improve the New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality process.
* Maintain and develop Quality Engineering command media, including:
* Non-Conformance Management
* Control Plans
* Quarantine Processes
* Quality documentation and procedures
* Coach, mentor and upskill Quality Engineers to support future programme requirements.
* Lead quality investigations, Root Cause Analysis, and Corrective Action activities.
* Drive improvements through Lean methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Monitor Quality Engineering performance metrics and lead corrective actions arising from business reviews.
* Work collaboratively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Programme teams to improve quality performance.
* Standardise quality processes to improve consistency, efficiency and compliance.
* Support product lifecycle quality activities from development through production.
About You
You're an experienced Quality Engineering professional who enjoys leading people as much as improving processes. You understand that Quality Engineering is about preventing issues before they occur, developing capability across teams, and creating systems that support operational excellence. Essential Experience
* Significant experience within Quality Engineering in a manufacturing or highly regulated engineering environment.
* Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems and Quality Assurance methodologies.
* Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI).
* Proven experience leading Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action activities.
* Strong knowledge of continuous improvement techniques.
* Experience developing and improving quality processes and documentation.
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
* Strong analytical and decision-making capability.
* Demonstrable experience delivering measurable quality improvements.
Desirable Experience
* Aerospace or Defence industry experience.
* SAP or equivalent ERP system knowledge.
* Lean Practitioner or Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification.
* Internal or Lead Auditor qualification.
* Engineering, Manufacturing, or Quality-related degree.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to take ownership of the Quality Engineering function within one of the UK's leading defence engineering organisations. You'll play a key role in shaping how quality is delivered across future programmes while developing a talented team and driving meaningful improvements throughout the business.
Security Requirements: Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be eligible to obtain Security Clearance (SC). Successful candidates will be required to achieve BPSS clearance before starting.
Interested?
If you're an experienced Quality Engineering Manager, Senior Quality Engineer, Quality Lead or Quality Manager looking to step into a strategic leadership role where you'll influence products, processes and people, we'd love to hear from you
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed