Lead Design Quality Assurance Engineer - 12m Inside IR35 Contractor

In order to develop and expand the capabilities of SAFRAN Engineering Services in the UK, we are looking for a Contractor to support as a Lead Design Quality Engineer. This position will be based full time in Pitstone, Hertfordshire and will be on an Inside IR35 basis only for 12 months.

You will ensure that engineering designs meet safety, regulatory (EASA, CAA) and customer requirements before production commences focusing on risk mitigation and process compliance and engages effectively with all involved regulatory bodies.

Lead engineer is a senior role responsible for planning and delivery of design assurance oversight in line with Part 21J airworthiness requirements and Design Organization Handbook (DOH) requirements applicable to the customer products, responsible for achieving 100% compliance with airworthiness. You will engage with heads of production, engineering, configuration and support functions defining strategy for defect prevention, root cause analysis and continuous improvement across the full product development lifecycle.

You will be responsible for coaching and development of the reporting engineer/s and will identify and approve training needs, system weaknesses and opportunities to improve methods of functional and business working through audits.

Primary interactions will be with the heads of engineering design, configuration control, program and industrialisation teams at Pitstone site and personnel from the other Safran Business Units as defined by DOH to support and influence business target/s definition and verification.

You will interact with multiple customers and regulatory authorities (EASA, CAA) representing Safran Electrical & Power Ltd as per established and agreed plan.

You will agree strategy with assigned operations areas, to offer support on quality assurance matters and will review performance across different customer product lines. You will interact directly with the heads of engineering, configuration control, supply chain and supplier quality teams and ultimately define and provide appropriate resource for the NPI programme teams.

Principal accountabilities

• Strategy definition and KPI reporting for all the customers on shared product platform.
• Plan created to measure how design change and technical documentation for product continued airworthiness meet EASA/ CAA Part 21J airworthiness and customer requirements and communicate KPI.
• Leading design reviews PDR/ CDR and all stages of DEV program to integrate quality, safety and producibility into initial design and decide additional resource where required.
• Leading Technical documentation reviewed and validated to confirm design performance.
• Leading and facilitating root cause corrective actions (RCCA), failure reporting and corrective actions (FRACA) analysis & practical problem-solving activities with corrective action sustainment monitoring in place to prevent in service failures.
• Strategy for APQP tools deployed for NPI created and deployed.
• Leading DFMEA/ PFMEA, Quality champion during DEV process stages for FMEA update.
• Internal/ external FAIRs/PPAPs compiled and/ or approved where required with status reported.
• Customer interaction to accommodate for quality escapes and request for customer approvals in conjunction with programmes.
• Effective interaction with the customer/s for quality escapes and request for customer approvals in conjunction with design & program’s needs.
• Customer, EASA, CAA, ISO9001 and AS9100 requirements and audits supported with NCR closeout oversight and follow on sessions implemented.
• Audit design methodologies and software tools to ensure conformity to AS9100.
• Active engagement with departmental Heads with regular reviews planned.
• Coaching quality engineers and specialist on quality methodologies and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, science, or engineering highly desirable.
• Min 5 years’ experience in aerospace industry or equivalent at engineering, design & development, or quality positions.
• Proficiency in ISO9001, AS9100 QMS standards deployment and implementation.
• Previous experience working with EASA/ CAA part 21J.
• Experience in internal and external audit and auditing techniques, lead auditor trained preferred.
• APQP Specialist with demonstrated proficiency in PPAP, FMEA and MSA.
• Problem solving proficient.8D, RCCA, FRACA with Six Sigma DMAIC Black Belt being desired.
• Configuration and data management experience.
• Ability to interpret and explain engineering drawings, CAD models and technical specifications.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate technical, complex issues effectively.
• Ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Experience with working in a new production environment.
• Demonstrated coaching and development skills

Benefits

• Early finish on a Friday - 0800-1645 Mon-Thurs, 0800-1200 Friday
• Onsite canteen