Quality Engineer

Job Title: Quality Engineer Department: Defence Location: Colchester Woods Air Movement specialises in the design, test, certification and manufacture of axial fans for a wide range of industrial and life applications. We offer one of the largest certified axial ranges in the world and pride ourselves on a highly customisable product and service offering to deliver maximum value to customers and end users. Main Purpose Of Role Woods Air Movement has an exciting opportunity for a high-calibre Quality Engineer, reporting to the MoD Business Unit Leader. This role sits within a dedicated and motivated team delivering on strategic defence contracts, forming a core part of our defence business pillar. The Quality Engineer will play a key role in supporting both in-house and supplier quality, with accountability for quality assurance activities that align with both internal and customer requirements. The role requires experience in defence and/or highly regulated industries, and the ability to operate in accordance with APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) frameworks. Candidates with welding experience are highly desirable—specifically those with CSWIP 3.2 or AWS welding inspector certification, which will support our commitment to delivering quality welded products under strict defence requirements. The successful candidate will be a proactive team player with strong communication skills and a drive to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and zero-defect delivery. Main Duties & Responsibilities Ensure product quality meets customer and project-specific requirements, including defence compliance Monitor the quality of both internally and externally manufactured components Conduct audits and inspections aligned with APQP quality planning principles Lead internal and customer 8D investigations and reports Liaise with suppliers and customers to address and resolve quality concerns Conduct supplier visits to review and enhance quality performance Develop and maintain inspection and control plans Maintain and act on supplier scorecard data Contribute to NPI, APQP, and FMEA activities Facilitate external audits and customer inspections for special process’s Collaborate across departments to promote continuous improvement initiatives Support process audits related to welding and fabrication (if qualified) Person Specification / Profile HNC/Degree in an Engineering Discipline, relevant QA qualification, or equivalent experience Proven background in Quality Assurance within a manufacturing or defence environment Understanding of APQP processes and quality planning tools Awareness of ISO 9001 and quality management frameworks Experience with 8D, FMEA, and root cause analysis techniques Welding experience preferred – ideally with CSWIP Level 3.2 or AWS certification Internal auditor qualified or willing to undertake training Strong analytical and documentation skills Confident communicator and team player with strong interpersonal skills Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools Ability to prioritise tasks and work independently Please note: For this position, you must be able to pass an initial Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). What We Offer Competitive salary 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) Hybrid working Christmas shutdown 4% pension scheme Life assurance scheme Company sick pay Enhanced family-friendly benefits Employee discount scheme Holiday purchase scheme Free tea & coffee Early finish on Fridays Cycle to Work scheme Woods Sports & Social Club Long service awards Free car parking Employee Assistance Programme & mental health support Learning and development opportunities Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer, recruiting individuals on their suitability for the role, qualifications and experience. We welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds. Due to limits on sponsorship allocations, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship for this position. Therefore, applicants who do not have the right to work in the UK, and/or require visa sponsorship in order to continue working in the UK, cannot be considered for this role. No recruitment agencies please