Job Description

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