Location: Crawley, West Sussex, UK
The Quality Engineer supports the delivery of quality excellence across products, processes, programmes, and suppliers. Working as part of the Quality team, the role focuses on maintaining compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS), supporting supplier quality activities, driving continual improvement initiatives, and resolving quality issues through structured problem-solving techniques.
The position works closely with Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Programme Management, and Suppliers to ensure products and services meet customer, regulatory, and business requirements.
The role provides an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in Supplier Quality, Lean Continuous Improvement, Quality Management Systems, and operational excellence.
What we offer:
- 25 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with long service and with the opportunity to buy/sell up to 5 days
- Profit Sharing Scheme (Annual Incentive Plan)
- Private medical insurance with optional family cover
- Pension scheme of up to 7% employer contribution
- Life Assurance 4x salary (flexible increase)
- Referral scheme
- Group income protection
- Flexible opt-in extras such as a health care cash plan, dental insurance, gym membership, critical illness cover and cycle to work scheme
- Employee assistance program providing mental health and wellbeing support
- Staff restaurant
- Staff car park (incl. EV charging stations)
Our Values are an integral part of who we are. We seek candidates who share our values:
- Customer First
- Own It
- Move Fast
- Speak Candidly
- Support supplier quality activities to ensure compliance with technical, quality, and contractual requirements.
- Assist with supplier onboarding, qualification, and evaluation activities.
- Participate in supplier audits, supplier visits, and supplier performance reviews.
- Support investigations into supplier non-conformances and corrective actions.
- Monitor supplier quality performance metrics and assist with supplier scorecard reporting.
- Support First Article Inspections (FAI) and product acceptance activities.
- Develop working relationships with suppliers to support quality improvement initiatives.
- Support the maintenance and continual improvement of the ISO 9001 QMS.
- Conduct internal audits and process audits in accordance with audit schedules.
- Ensure compliance with company procedures, quality standards, and customer requirements.
- Assist in the management of non-conformances, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
- Maintain quality documentation, records, and audit evidence.
- Support external audits and customer assessments as required.
- Contribute to Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives across operational and business processes.
- Participate in improvement workshops and lessons learned activities.
- Support process reviews to identify waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Assist with implementation and monitoring of improvement actions.
- Capture, investigate, and support resolution of product, process, and supplier quality issues.
- Apply structured problem-solving techniques to identify root causes and implement corrective actions such as: 8D, 5 Why, Pareto Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, FMEA
- Monitor corrective actions to ensure effective closure and prevention of recurrence.
- Maintain quality metrics, dashboards, and KPI reporting.
- Analyse quality performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
- Support reporting of quality performance to internal stakeholders.
- Assist with preparation of quality reports and management review inputs.
- Participate in design reviews, programme reviews, process reviews, and customer reviews.
- Support verification, inspection, and testing activities.
- Ensure quality records are completed, maintained, and retained appropriately.
- Support product acceptance and release activities in accordance with approved processes.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential- Degree, or equivalent in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related discipline.
- Experience within a manufacturing, engineering, aerospace or defence environment.
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
- Understanding of quality assurance principles and quality tools.
- Experience supporting root cause investigations and corrective action activities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Willingness to undertake occasional travel to supplier sites if required.
- Internal Auditor experience or qualification.
- Experience with supplier quality activities.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of problem solving methodologies
- Experience using ERP and Quality Management systems.
Technologies
- SAP
- JIRA
- Power BI
Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Please note: All candidates who wish to be considered for this vacancy must have the right to work in the UK.
Skills Required
- Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related discipline
- Experience within a manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, or defence environment
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
- Understanding of quality assurance principles and quality tools
- Experience supporting root cause investigations and corrective action activities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
- Willingness to undertake occasional travel to supplier sites
- Internal Auditor experience or qualification
- Experience with supplier quality activities
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies
- Knowledge of problem-solving methodologies
- Experience using ERP and Quality Management systems
- Right to work in the UK
What We Do
Acron Aviation Academy is a commercial airline-pilot training school that takes cadets from little or no flying experience through theoretical instruction and flight training toward qualification as pilots. It offers pilot-training programs and courses, access to a fleet of more than 85 single- and multi-engine aircraft and flight-training devices, and career pathways and airline relationships to help graduates progress toward airline roles.
