Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Are you an experienced Lead Supplier Quality Engineer?

HR Employment Bureau are looking for an experienced Lead Supplier Quality Engineer to manage and develop a team of Lead Supplier Quality Engineers responsible for supplier containment, controlled shipping, and supplier recovery activities across a portfolio of underperforming suppliers. This is working with one of our prestigious clients based in the Woking area.

Hours of work 07:00 16:30 Monday - Friday

£33.00 per hour = £264.00 per day

£36.00 per hour = £288.00 per day (ONLY DOE)

Key Responsibilities of Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 46 Junior Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Prioritise and allocate supplier quality activities based on business risk and programme requirements.
• Act as the escalation point for critical supplier quality, containment, and recovery issues.
• Oversee deployment and management of CSL1 and CSL2 activities across the supplier base.
• Ensure robust containment plans are implemented to protect manufacturing from quality escapes.
• Review and approve containment exit criteria, corrective actions, and recovery plans.
• Drive suppliers to complete effective root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D, 5 Why, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Monitor supplier performance through PPM, quality escapes, disruption events, corrective action closure, and containment effectiveness.
• Provide regular reporting to senior management on supplier risk, quality performance, and recovery progress.
• Support customer protection activities and rapid response to emerging quality concerns.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Supplier Development, and Programme teams to minimise disruption and improve supplier performance.
• Manage third-party sorting and containment providers where required.

Essential Requirements of Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

• Bachelors degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 7 years' experience in Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or Supplier Quality Assurance within automotive or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading supplier containment and recovery activities, including CSL1 and CSL2.
• Previous experience leading, coaching, or coordinating SQE teams.
• Strong working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, GD&T, 8D, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supplier quality management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with native English or minimum C1 proficiency.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure manufacturing environment.

Desirable Requirements

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Experience within OEM, motorsport, high-performance automotive, or Tier 1 manufacturing environments
• Experience leading supplier audits and supplier improvement programmes.
• Knowledge of machining, composites, assembly, castings, or complex engineered products.

Qualities we are looking for

• Strong leader with a hands-on approach.
• Results-focused with high levels of ownership and accountability.
• Decisive and confident managing supplier escalations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Effective communicator capable of influencing suppliers and stakeholders at all levels.

If you are interested in this job role please apply online.