Quality Assurance Specialist

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: Band D (S1) £46,444 per annum 

Hours: Full-Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Contract Type: Open-Ended

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians, and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it is sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you are surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn, and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About Us

RAL Space is involved in all aspects of design, manufacture, assembly and test of hardware and software for space-based and ground-based scientific instruments, working alongside the UK Space Agency and international partners including ESA and NASA. Central to this work is the Quality Assurance & Safety Group (QASG), which oversees the implementation and certification of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and all activities to achieve safe working conditions compliant with legislation and STFC safety codes.

About the Role

We are looking to appoint a QA Specialist to support the maintenance of our Quality Management Systems (QMS) and provide QA input across the operational readiness of the test facilities and their supporting supply chain.  Working under the direction of a Senior QA Specialist, you will carry out well-defined QA activities to a high standard, including supplier quality assurance, milestone and gateway reviews and documentation compliance, and contributing to the development of working practices that meet quality and space industry requirements.

The role is largely operational, requiring coordination and liaison with multiple stakeholders to ensure adequate coverage of inspection and witnessing activities across the test facilities. You must be capable of thorough work to tight deadlines, adapting to changing priorities, and communicating effectively with managers, engineers and scientists across STFC and with external stakeholders. There may be occasional travel with overnight stays.

Key Responsibilities

• Organising and participating in Nonconformance Review Board (NRB) meetings, ensuring issues are raised, documented, dispositioned and progressed in a timely manner. 
• Organising Facility Readiness Review (FRR) meetings, including scheduling, collation of the evidence and documentation pack, and action follow-up to facilitate progression to sign-off.
• Liaising with internal technical teams to support the creation, review and controlled release of QMS documentation in accordance with document control procedures.
• Supporting and witnessing key test activities and critical hardware operations, acting as the QA representative and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and procedures.
• Collating and maintaining handover documentation to support the transition of new facilities from commissioning into steady-state operations.
• Supporting and participating in internal audits to ISO 9001 and EN 9100 / ECSS-Q-ST-20-07C, including compilation of audit reports and agreement of findings with auditees.
• Supporting the review and approval process for suppliers and maintaining the Approved Supplier List for the test facilities. 
• Participating in QA walkabouts across RAL Space work areas and capturing actions for follow-up. 

Shortlisting Criteria

(Please note the criteria below will be assessed at Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM subject, or a strong record of professional development (S).
• Experience working in an organisation operating a QMS certified to ISO 9001 and/or EN 9100 (S&I).
• Practical experience managing non-conformance or anomaly processes (S&I)
• Ability to review, critically assess and maintain technical or controlled documentation (S&I)
• Experience supporting or coordinating technical reviews and inspections in a scientific, engineering or regulated environment (S&I).
• Effective written and verbal communication with multi-disciplinary technical teams (S&I)
• Understanding of internal audit processes (ideally to ISO 9001 and/or EN 9100) (S&I).
• Understanding of ECSS standards (ECSS-Q-ST-20-07C) or demonstrable ability to learn and apply unfamiliar regulatory frameworks (I).

Employee Benefits:

We are offering an open-ended contract with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days)
• Flexible working hours
• An excellent average salary pension scheme
• Employee shopping/travel discounts
• Learning and development opportunities

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, and business-support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. 

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what is possible!

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected]. 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.