Supplier Quality Engineer

Role: Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)

Location: Rugby, Warwickshire

Job Type: Full-time, permanent

Salary: £43,000–£46,000 per annum + benefits

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Supplier Quality Engineer to join a Tier 1 Aerospace and Defence business at its Rugby site.

As a key supplier to major aerospace and defence programmes, the company holds its supply chain to the highest possible standards, and this role sits right at that critical interface, ensuring every part that arrives at the gate meets exacting requirement.

You'll be the technical voice of quality across the supply base, working hand-in-hand with suppliers and internal stakeholders alike. For an SQE looking to broaden their exposure within a demanding, highly regulated sector, this is a role with real variety and genuine influence.

What You'll Be Doing

• Own supplier quality performance across a defined portfolio of sub-tier and Tier 1 suppliers
• Conduct supplier audits, surveillance visits and source inspections, both in the UK and occasionally overseas
• Review and approve supplier PPAP submissions and first article inspection reports (FAIRs)
• Drive the resolution of supplier-driven non-conformances, leading containment, root cause analysis and corrective action
• Support new supplier onboarding, qualification and approval in line with AS9100 requirements
• Monitor supplier KPIs — PPM, OTD and cost of poor quality — and implement improvement plans where performance slips
• Work alongside design, procurement and manufacturing engineering to ensure supplier capability is understood and managed from the outset
• Support delegated authority processes and ensure full aerospace traceability is maintained throughout the supply chain
• Represent quality during customer audits and programme reviews where supplier performance is under scrutiny

What You'll Bring

• A solid background in supplier quality, quality engineering or supplier development, ideally within aerospace, defence or another regulated manufacturing sector
• Working knowledge of AS9100, AS9120 and supplier approval processes
• Experience auditing suppliers — ideally with recognised auditor training (e.g. IRCA-registered)
• A sound grasp of engineering drawings, specifications and tolerance interpretation
• Confidence in structured problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5 Whys and Ishikawa
• The ability to build strong working relationships with suppliers while holding them firmly to account
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to supplier sites as required

Why Apply?

• Join a Tier 1 business supplying into prestigious aerospace and defence programmes
• Take genuine ownership of a supply base, with your decisions directly shaping product quality
• Regular supplier-facing variety — no two weeks look the same
• Be part of a quality function that invests in its people, with support for further professional development
• Competitive salary, benefits package and a stable long-term future with an established market leader

Interested?

If you're ready to take ownership of supplier quality within a business where the standards really matter, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today with your up-to-date CV.