Supplier Quality Engineer

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Supplier Quality Engineer to join the Quality team at a critical stage in the company’s growth. This role is responsible for supporting the approval, development, and ongoing management of the supplier base, providing assurance of supplier management systems, processes, and product quality.

This position is pivotal in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant products to our customers and in shaping a robust, scalable supply chain for Cambridge Aerospace. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and bring hands-on experience onboarding new suppliers and improving supplier performance in regulated manufacturing environments.

You will work closely with Procurement, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to ensure quality requirements are clearly defined, understood, and met by suppliers.

Responsibilities

- Partner with Procurement, Engineering, and Manufacturing to define and support a supply chain structure that meets product and business requirements

- Support Procurement in implementing robust supplier management processes and ensuring the quality of delivered products

- Develop suppliers to optimise quality, cost, and delivery performance

- Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to enhance overall performance

- Conduct supplier audits for approval and ongoing maintenance, ensuring timely and effective close-out of findings

- Lead supplier quality issue resolution, including containment, root-cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions

- Implement supplier performance review processes, including escalation routes, recovery plans, and management reporting

- Support Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) activities with suppliers to ensure manufacturability and efficient assembly

- Support sourcing and supplier selection for product development and New Product Introduction (NPI), including benchmarking, capability assessments, compliance reviews, and supply risk assessments

- Coordinate First Article Inspection (FAI) requirements and manage supplier quality projects with minimal supervision

Requirements

- Minimum 3 years’ experience in a Supplier Quality Engineer, Supplier Quality Assurance, or Supplier Development role within aerospace, automotive, or similar engineering/manufacturing sectors

- Experience operating in organisations managed under regulatory standards including ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100, and EASA Part 21

- Strong engineering fundamentals, with the ability to interpret drawings, specifications, and standards

Proven experience in supplier quality assurance and continuous improvement within an OEM or Tier 1 supplier environment

- In-depth knowledge of quality auditing processes and applicable regulatory standards

- Experience using core quality tools and methods, including APQP, PPAP, SPC, and FMEA

- Proven experience leading root-cause analysis and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions with suppliers

- Experience working with manufacturing and ERP systems, including routings, BOMs, concessions, and change requests

- Ability to produce clear, high-quality documentation and communicate effectively at all levels

- Strong planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills

Preferred Qualifications / Experience

- Experience across multiple supplier commodity groups, such as composite structures, metallic and machined parts, or power systems

- Project or risk management experience

- Understanding of lean manufacturing principles

- Experience working across multi-site or global manufacturing organisations

- Certified Lead Auditor (ISO standards)

- Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt

- Membership of a recognised professional body (e.g. CQI)

Qualifications

- Diploma or degree in a relevant engineering or quality discipline

- Ability to travel within the UK and internationally

What We Offer

- Competitive compensation and stock options

- Private Medical & Dental

- Cycle to work scheme

- Lunchtime catering on site

About Us

The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air - low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.

We’re building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them - at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.

We have immense backing from the world’s best venture funds. We’re one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we’re hiring the best engineers to prosecute the mission.

If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build technology better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.