Quality Engineer

Location: Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Salary: 45,000 - 55,000 depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Monday to Friday

Contek Recruitment are representing their client, a well-established and technically advanced precision engineering and manufacturing business based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, who are looking to appoint an experienced Quality Engineer.

This is a hands-on manufacturing quality position within a high-precision engineering environment, supporting the production of complex components and assemblies for demanding and highly regulated industries.

The successful Quality Engineer will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Customers and Suppliers to ensure quality requirements are understood, controlled and consistently achieved from production through to final inspection.

The business operates a modern manufacturing environment incorporating advanced CNC machining, multi-axis manufacturing and sophisticated metrology and inspection equipment, including CMM technology. Quality, traceability and continuous improvement are central to the operation.

The Role

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will provide professional quality engineering support across the manufacturing operation, with particular responsibility for manufacturing quality control, inspection, non-conformance and continuous improvement.

You will be comfortable working on the shop floor as well as dealing directly with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing manufacturing quality requirements across production
• Interpreting complex mechanical engineering drawings and determining appropriate inspection and measurement techniques
• Carrying out and supporting inspection activities and producing accurate inspection reports
• Liaising with customers and suppliers regarding quality-related issues
• Working closely with Manufacturing to identify and report quality shortfalls
• Training operators in inspection techniques and the correct use of inspection equipment
• Preparing inspection equipment work instructions and manufacturing quality documentation
• Managing measurement and test equipment and supporting the calibration system
• Setting adjustable measurement and test equipment for use by manufacturing operators
• Translating customer quality requirements into clear manufacturing instructions
• Managing non-conformances and customer complaints using structured 8D and 5 Why problem-solving techniques
• Producing inspection reports, final inspection trend analysis and associated quality documentation
• Compiling customer documentation and quality packs
• Supporting and completing internal system and process audits
• Carrying out supplier audits and providing reports and recommendations
• Developing Quality Control Plans and inspection requirements for specific customer projects
• Identifying and implementing improvements to inspection methods, quality processes and equipment
• Supporting continuous improvement and maintaining high standards of traceability and process control
• Working with internal teams to ensure parts are inspected and released within agreed timescales

About You

The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years' recent experience working as a Quality Engineer or in a similar manufacturing quality role.

You will ideally come from a precision engineering, CNC machining or complex manufacturing environment and have a strong understanding of dimensional inspection and manufacturing quality control.

You should have:

• A minimum of 5 years' experience within a Quality Engineer or equivalent manufacturing quality position
• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge and the ability to interpret complex engineering drawings
• Good knowledge of dimensional inspection techniques and measurement equipment
• Experience producing inspection reports and quality documentation
• Experience managing non-conformances and carrying out root cause analysis
• Practical experience with 8D and 5 Why problem solving
• Experience working with customers and suppliers on quality-related matters
• Good communication and project management skills
• The ability to train and support production personnel in quality and inspection techniques
• Good Microsoft Office skills
• A Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship or equivalent engineering qualification

Desirable Experience

The following would be advantageous, although not all are essential:

- CMM programming experience

- PC-DMIS programming experience

- Experience with Hexagon CMM equipment

- Experience with tactile and laser CMM inspection

- PC-DMIS Level 2

- ISO 9000 / ISO 9001 auditing experience

- Experience working within AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality systems

- Previous experience within aerospace, defence, nuclear, medical, semiconductor or another highly regulated manufacturing environment

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a technically advanced manufacturing business where Quality is genuinely embedded throughout the production process.

The company operates across complex, high-integrity engineering markets and invests heavily in advanced manufacturing, inspection and metrology technology. Its capabilities include multi-axis CNC machining, welding, assembly, testing and sophisticated dimensional verification, with a strong focus on traceability, repeatability and right-first-time manufacturing.

The role would suit a Quality Engineer who enjoys being close to manufacturing and wants to take ownership of quality rather than simply operating within a purely administrative quality function.

Apply

If you are an experienced Quality Engineer with a strong manufacturing and inspection background and are interested in discussing the opportunity, please apply with your CV.

Contek Recruitment are acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.