Quality Lead – AS9100D / MIL-PRF-39016
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department: Quality
Reports To: Operations Manager
Direct Reports: 2
Salary: £37,000-£42,000
Industry: Aerospace & Defence – Electromechanical Components
Career Progression: Quality Manager within 12–18 months, subject to performance and achievement of agreed objectives
Role Purpose
The Quality Lead is responsible for leading the Quality function and maintaining the AS9100D Quality Management System, ensuring electromechanical components meet customer, regulatory and applicable military requirements.
The role will lead a team of two and work closely with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, Supply Chain and Sales, with particular focus on MIL-PRF-39016, product conformity, reliability, traceability and continual improvement.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop into the Quality Manager role within 12–18 months, subject to successful performance, leadership development and achievement of agreed business and quality objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Quality & Compliance
- Maintain and continually improve the AS9100D QMS.
- Ensure compliance with customer, aerospace, defence and applicable military requirements.
- Manage internal, customer and certification audits.
- Maintain quality procedures, records and documented information.
- Ensure product traceability and objective evidence of conformity.
MIL-PRF-39016 & Product Quality
- Ensure applicable MIL-PRF-39016 requirements are understood and controlled.
- Ensure effective incoming, in-process and final inspection and testing.
- Support AS9102 First Article Inspection, qualification and reliability testing.
- Control non-conforming product and ensure appropriate disposition.
- Ensure inspection and test equipment is calibrated and controlled.
Non-Conformance & Improvement
- Lead customer, supplier and internal non-conformances.
- Drive root-cause analysis and corrective action using tools such as 8D, 5 Why and FMEA.
- Monitor quality trends, failures, scrap and rework.
- Drive Right First Time and continuous improvement.
- Establish and monitor Quality KPIs.
Customer, Supplier & Sales Support
- Act as a key Quality contact for customers and suppliers.
- Manage supplier quality issues and corrective actions.
- Support Sales with RFQs, quotations, tenders and contract reviews.
- Review customer specifications and quality requirements.
- Support customer questionnaires, Certificates of Conformity and Statements of Compliance.
- Identify quality risks associated with new business.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and develop two Quality team members.
- Set priorities, objectives and performance expectations.
- Promote a proactive quality and right-first-time culture.
Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years' experience in Quality, preferably within aerospace, defence, electronics or electromechanical manufacturing.
- Relevant Quality, Engineering or Manufacturing qualification is desirable.
- Strong practical knowledge of AS9100D.
- Experience with MIL-PRF specifications, ideally MIL-PRF-39016.
- Experience with electromagnetic relays, electromechanical components or other high-reliability products is highly desirable.
- Experience with audits, non-conformance, corrective action and customer complaints.
- Experience with supplier and customer quality requirements.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, leadership and communication skills.
- AS9100 Internal Auditor / Lead Auditor qualification is advantageous.
Personal Attributes
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
- Proactive, practical and solutions-focused.
- Confident challenging non-conforming product or processes.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Able to work effectively with customers, suppliers and internal teams.
- Commercially aware while maintaining quality and compliance standards.
- Demonstrates the ambition and capability to progress into a Quality Manager position.
Career Progression
The role is designed as a development position for an experienced Quality professional who can progress to Quality Manager within 12–18 months.
Progression will be based on demonstrated capability in:
- Ownership and effective management of the AS9100D QMS.
- Successful management of audits and corrective actions.
- Delivery of measurable Quality improvements.
- Effective leadership and development of the Quality team.
- Strong customer and supplier Quality management.
- Ability to manage Quality priorities independently.
- Demonstrated commercial awareness and cross-functional leadership.
- Achievement of agreed Quality KPIs and business objectives.
Pay: £37,000.00-£42,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
Work Location: In person
