Quality Engineer

Quality Engineer We're hiring to support a major increase in customer demand & give dedicated focus to a key aerospace account and its continuous improvement activity. In return, you'll receive up to £35,000, 25 days' holiday + birthday leave & extra service days, life assurance & the chance to build a long-term career in a niche, highly regulated sector. About Us South West Metal Finishing is a long-established, family-run surface engineering and metal finishing group, supplying high-spec components to the aerospace, defence, automotive and high-technology sectors. From our large facility on Marsh Barton Trading Estate in Exeter, we provide electroplating, anodising, chemical conversion, and non-destructive testing services to many leading aerospace manufacturers and their supply chains. We hold AS9100, ISO 9001, NADCAP and ISO 14001 accreditations, operate in a highly regulated environment, and have been refining our craft for over 90 years. You'll be joining a friendly, experienced quality team in a business that offers job security, interesting aerospace and defence work, and real scope for progression within quality, compliance and wider group roles. Why You'll Enjoy This Role Development & progression : Clear pathways into senior quality, compliance and group roles, with strong support from a Quality & Product Assurance leadership team that genuinely invests in people. Work–life balance : Day shifts only, early Friday finish, and no regular weekend work. Benefits 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays An additional birthday day off (linked to attendance) Extra holiday for long service (up to 5 additional days) 5% employer / 5% employee pension Death in service cover at 3x salary Healthcare cashplan-style scheme (for example contribution towards dental / optical) The Role As a Quality Engineer, you'll focus on non-conforming product, customer returns and continuous improvement – with particular emphasis on a key aerospace account where volumes and complexity are increasing. You'll work closely with Quality, Engineering and Operations teams to investigate issues properly, not just apply a quick fix, and help move the culture towards robust root cause analysis and prevention. Key Responsibilities Lead investigations into non-conforming product, using problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA, Poka-Yoke or Six Sigma to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. Review and process customer returns daily, ensuring timely assessment, clear documentation and effective corrective and preventive actions in line with KPIs. Support the daily MRB (Material Review Board) process, walking the shop floor with engineering and operations to assess issues, agree dispositions and drive follow-up actions. Liaise with internal stakeholders when procedures, specifications or work instructions need updating, ensuring documentation reflects current best practice. Provide professional communication to customers and suppliers, including 8D reports and responses to quality concerns. Support Lead Inspectors with AS9102 First Article Inspection Reports and help identify training needs within inspection. Analyse external (customer) returns data to spot trends and implement robust preventative actions. Attend daily SQDCP / departmental meetings and communicate openly with engineering, sales and production to help achieve company objectives. About You Essential Hands‑on Quality Engineering / Quality Assurance experience, ideally including non-conformances, customer returns and MRB activity. Proven experience in a manufacturing environment. Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (for example ISO 9001, AS9100) and related documentation. Strong problem‑solving skills and familiarity with structured tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA, PDCA or similar. Able to interpret technical drawings and use MS Office confidently. Clear, professional communication skills – both written and verbal – with the ability to engage at all levels. Desirable Experience in aerospace, surface treatment, electroplating or anodising environments. Exposure to Nadcap or similar special process audits. Location Marsh Barton, Exeter (on‑site) Hours Monday–Thursday 08:00–16:30, Friday 08:00–14:00 Salary £32,000–£35,000 depending on experience #J-18808-Ljbffr