Quality Assurance Manager
1 day ago
Cambridge
Job Title: Quality Manager Location: Cambridge – with flexible travel across the UK and Europe Job Type: Full time Industry: Defence | Start-ups & Scale-ups Reports to: Head of Manufacturing About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Quality Manager to lead the development and execution of our quality function. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in defence, automotive, aerospace industries, and a proven track record of building a quality department from scratch. This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives in fast-paced, technical environments and can bring structure, compliance, and continuous improvement to both internal and supplier-facing quality operations. You will be responsible for developing and implementing ISO 9001, AS9100, and other relevant quality standards, while also leading, mentoring, and growing a high-performing quality team. Key Responsibilities Quality Management Systems (QMS) • Lead the implementation, maintenance, and certification of ISO 9001, AS9100, and other industry-specific QMS., • Develop and maintain company-wide quality policies, procedures, and documentation., • Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements across all business areas. Department Leadership & Development • Build the quality department from the ground up, including setting up systems, recruiting staff, and defining KPIs., • Develop and lead a high-performing quality team to support operational, production, and engineering functions., • Foster a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement across the organisation. Supplier Quality Management • Lead supplier qualification, auditing, and performance management processes., • Develop and enforce supplier quality standards, including PPAP, APQP, and SCAR processes., • Collaborate with procurement and engineering teams to resolve supplier quality issues and drive improvement initiatives. Operational & Product Quality • Oversee internal quality control and assurance activities, including inspection, testing, and final product release., • Support root cause analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and non-conformance management., • Analyse quality data to drive continuous improvement in processes, yields, and customer satisfaction. Audit & Compliance • Lead internal and external audits, including third-party certification and customer audits., • Ensure timely closure of audit findings and non-conformances., • Stay current with changes in industry standards and regulatory requirements. Qualifications & Experience Essential: • 7+ years’ experience in quality roles within defence, aerospace, automotive, or medical device sectors., • Hands-on experience with ISO 9001, AS9100, and other quality standards., • Demonstrated ability to build and lead a quality department from scratch., • Proven leadership in building and managing teams in a quality function., • Strong background in supplier quality management, including audits, compliance, and issue resolution., • Deep understanding of quality tools and methodologies: FMEA, SPC, 8D, CAPA, RCA, etc. Desirable: • Degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical discipline., • Certified Lead Auditor (ISO 9001, AS9100)., • Experience working in start-up or scale-up environments., • Familiarity with ERP and quality management systems (e.g., SAP, Q-Pulse, Arena, etc.). Key Skills • Leadership & team development, • QMS implementation & compliance, • Supplier quality & vendor development, • Process improvement & lean methodologies, • Internal and external auditing, • Technical report writing and documentation control, • Strong communication and stakeholder engagement, • Attention to detail and analytical thinking