Quality Technician

Quality Control Technician – Job Description

Job Title & Reporting Line

• Job Title: Quality Control Technician
• Reporting Line: Plant Quality Manager / delegated Quality Engineer
• Function: Site Quality
• Location: Vertiv Campsie, Londonderry
• Working Environment: Hands-on factory role supporting high-mix, engineered-to-order low- and medium-voltage switchgear manufacture for data centres and critical infrastructure.

Role Purpose

The Quality Control Technician is responsible for verifying that product and process execution on the shop floor meets defined requirements at the point of build, test and release. The role protects the customer by identifying nonconformance early, reinforcing process discipline, and ensuring that quality standards are applied consistently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. While inspection and verification are core to the role, the expectation is broader than checking product at the end; the Quality Control Technician must actively support right-first-time execution, clear containment, traceability, and escalation of risks at source in line with VOS and ISO 9001:2015 requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out in-process, final, and first-off inspection activities to verify compliance with engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, bill of materials, workmanship standards, test requirements, and approved build documentation.
• Support right-first-time manufacture by identifying defects early, escalating abnormalities immediately, and working with production teams to prevent defects from moving downstream.
• Perform first-off / first-article verification checks at defined hold points to confirm product, process, and documentation readiness before ongoing manufacture continues.
• Complete patrol inspections and layered verification checks within production areas to confirm adherence to standard work, approved methods, control plans, and quality checkpoints.
• Raise, record, and manage nonconforming product findings in line with site NCR / nonconformance processes, ensuring clear defect description, traceability, segregation, and timely escalation.
• Support containment of suspect or nonconforming material by identifying affected batches / serials / work orders, ensuring physical segregation, and maintaining accurate status identification.
• Verify completion and effectiveness of rework or corrective actions before product is released to the next stage of manufacture, test, or shipment.
• Review product identification, traceability, status marking, and completion records to ensure build history is accurate, legible, and audit-ready.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Quality Engineering to clarify requirements, resolve inspection concerns, and provide factual feedback on recurring issues and process weaknesses.
• Support deviation and concession control by confirming that only authorised deviations are applied, the scope is clearly identified, and affected product remains fully traceable.
• Contribute to audit readiness by maintaining accurate inspection records, evidence of conformity, and clear documentation of defects, rework, and release decisions.
• Promote high standards of housekeeping, workmanship, and discipline on the shop floor, challenging poor practice in a constructive and timely manner.
• Provide data and observations on repeat defects, workmanship issues, and control weaknesses to support RCCA, CAPA, and continuous improvement activity.
• Escalate any issue that may compromise safety, compliance, customer requirements, or product integrity without delay.

Key Interfaces & Decision Authority

• Operations / Production: Works directly with operators, team leaders, and supervisors to verify product conformity, reinforce standards, and contain issues quickly.
• Engineering: Interfaces to clarify drawings, specifications, change points, and technical requirements where build or inspection standards are unclear.
• Quality Engineer / Plant Quality Manager: Escalates recurring issues, supports root cause input, and aligns on containment, release decisions, and process concerns.
• Supply Chain / Stores: Supports identification and segregation of suspect incoming or issued material where quality concerns are identified.
• Supplier Quality (as required): Provides factual defect evidence and traceability information for supplier-related nonconformities.

Decision Authority:

• Can stop, hold, or escalate product where conformity is not demonstrated or where inspection / traceability requirements have not been met.
• Can require segregation and identification of suspect or nonconforming material pending formal disposition.
• Can reject incomplete, damaged, incorrectly built, or inadequately documented work from progressing to the next stage until corrected or formally dispositioned.
• Can challenge release where authorised deviations, records, or verification evidence are missing or unclear.
• Operates within site quality procedures and escalation rules, referring formal disposition / concession approvals to the authorised function.

KPIs / Success Measures

• Accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of inspection and verification records.
• Reduction in defect escape to downstream operations, test, installation, or customer.
• Speed and effectiveness of containment for identified nonconforming product.
• First-off / first-article verification completion to plan and quality standard.
• Repeat defect visibility and contribution to reduction of recurring workmanship / process issues.
• Adherence to hold points, inspection plans, and traceability requirements.
• Audit readiness of records and compliance to site procedures.
• Constructive escalation of risks and evidence-based support to RCCA / CAPA activity.

EHS & Compliance Accountabilities

• Comply fully with Vertiv EHS requirements, site rules, PPE requirements, safe systems of work, and statutory obligations at all times.
• Never release or allow movement of product where safety, legal, customer, or process compliance requirements are not met.
• Ensure inspection activities, re-verification, and containment actions are carried out safely and without creating unnecessary operational risk.
• Maintain compliance to ISO 9001:2015 requirements, site procedures, customer requirements, and applicable product / process standards.
• Maintain factual, accurate, and timely records that are traceable and suitable for audit and customer review.

Role Profile Summary

This role is best suited to a disciplined, detail-oriented quality professional who is comfortable in a hands-on factory environment, confident reading engineering information, and willing to challenge nonconformance at the point of occurrence. The successful candidate will combine practical inspection skill with sound judgement, strong communication, and the confidence to protect the customer while supporting operational flow.

Personnel Specification Essential Experience

• Experience in a Quality Technician, Quality Control, Manufacturing Quality, or similar role within a production or engineering environment.
• Proven experience carrying out in-process and final inspection activities against drawings, specifications, workmanship standards, or test requirements.
• Experience identifying, recording, and escalating nonconformance in a controlled and traceable manner.
• Experience working in a hands-on manufacturing environment where pace, product variation, and operational discipline must be balanced.
• Experience supporting product segregation, rework verification, hold / release decisions, or containment activities on the shop floor.
• Experience completing inspection records or quality documentation to a good standard of accuracy and traceability.
• Experience working with production teams and supervisors to resolve issues at source rather than relying purely on end-of-line detection.

Essential Technical Competence

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, wiring schematics, general assembly drawings, bills of materials, and controlled work instructions.
• Good understanding of inspection techniques, visual standards, workmanship expectations, product identification, and traceability requirements.
• Working knowledge of nonconformance control, segregation, status identification, and release discipline within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to use basic measuring / verification tools and check product against defined criteria accurately and consistently.
• Understanding of first-off / first-article checks, hold points, and in-process verification requirements.
• Awareness of ISO 9001:2015 principles relevant to the role, particularly control of documented information, control of nonconforming outputs, competence, monitoring / measurement, and customer focus.
• Ability to identify abnormal conditions, assess immediate risk, and escalate clearly and factually.
• Basic capability in recording and reporting quality data using standard business systems and Microsoft Office tools.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in switchgear, panel build, electro-mechanical assembly, electrical manufacturing, or other engineered product environments.
• Exposure to low- or medium-voltage product manufacture, testing, or installation requirements.
• Experience supporting audits, layered process checks, or formal quality gate activities.
• Familiarity with deviation / concession controls, supplier-related nonconformance, or incoming inspection activities.
• Awareness of lean manufacturing, 5S, visual management, and defect prevention methods.

Behavioural Expectations

• Own It – takes responsibility for quality decisions, follows issues through, and does not ignore poor standards or unclear status.
• Act With Urgency – responds quickly to defects and abnormal conditions, ensuring prompt containment and escalation.
• Foster a Customer-First Mindset – recognises that every inspection decision protects the end user, Vertiv reputation, and compliance obligations.
• Think Big and Execute – understands the wider consequence of quality escapes while remaining disciplined in daily execution.
• Lead by Example – demonstrates strong workmanship expectations, integrity, and professional behaviour on the factory floor.
• Drive Continuous Improvement – shares observations, repeat issues, and learning points that help reduce future defects.
• Learn and Seek Out Development – builds technical understanding, product knowledge, and inspection capability over time.

Personal Attributes

• High attention to detail with the discipline to follow standards consistently.
• Confident and constructive communicator who can challenge nonconforming work respectfully.
• Organised and reliable with strong record-keeping and follow-up habits.
• Practical, hands-on, and comfortable spending significant time in an active manufacturing environment.
• Calm under pressure and able to make sound, balanced decisions when schedule and quality requirements are in tension.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical qualification, apprenticeship, NVQ / City & Guilds / BTEC / HNC, or equivalent practical experience in manufacturing, engineering, electrical assembly, or quality.
• Formal inspection or quality training is desirable, but strong practical manufacturing quality experience is equally valued.

EHS & Compliance Accountabilities

• Demonstrates safe working behaviours and full compliance with site EHS requirements.
• Maintains integrity, accuracy, and traceability of inspection records and quality decisions.
• Supports compliance with site QMS requirements, customer requirements, and all applicable product / process controls.