Lead Supplier Quality Engineer
Job Description Summary
Our Quality Engineering team serves as the critical link between design, manufacturing, and customer delivery. We go beyond traditional inspection, embedding quality into every stage of the product lifecycle to build enduring confidence with customers and stakeholders. Through a proactive, prevention-focused mindset and data-driven decision-making, we strengthen capability, reduce risk, and deliver measurable operational and business improvements while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance.*Due to National Security you must hold a UK passport for Security Clearance (SC) as UK EYES ONLY rules apply*
Job Description
As a Lead Supplier Quality Engineer, you will apply this philosophy to our global supply chain, ensuring that products and materials provided by our external partners consistently meet our rigorous standards. In this pivotal role, you will lead continuous improvement initiatives, maintain strict compliance with industry regulations, and act as a critical guardian of our technical integrity and operational performance.
Key responsibilities:
- Supplier Onboarding & Qualification: Lead the qualification and onboarding process for new technical suppliers, ensuring they possess the specialized capabilities required for our niche, low-volume components.
- Quality Planning (APQP/PPAP): Lead the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for suppliers, ensuring that quality requirements are robustly defined and met.
- NPI & Process Maturity: Partner with NPI programs to ensure supplier readiness, verifying that manufacturing processes for complex, bespoke parts are stable and mature prior to production launch.
- Audit & Process Oversight: Conduct rigorous onsite supplier audits for specialized manufacturing processes-including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) reviews-verifying compliance with QMS standards and driving continuous process alignment.
- Strategic RCA & Problem Solving: Lead complex non-conformance investigations for bespoke parts, using 8D and other structured methodologies to drive systemic corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
- Technical Supplier Development: Act as the onsite quality authority, collaborating with supplier engineering teams to identify process improvements, reduce variability, and stabilize production outputs.
- Risk & Performance Management: Monitor supplier performance through data-driven reporting, identifying emerging risks in component quality and implementing proactive improvement plans.
Candidate Requirements
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality Management, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience: Proven expertise in Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance, or Manufacturing Engineering within a highly regulated, complex engineering sector such as Aerospace, Defence, or Power Generation.
- Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of QMS standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100) and essential quality tools (PPAP, FMEA, MSA, and SPC) used to manage complex/niche components.
- Problem-Solving: Demonstrated success in leading root cause investigations and implementing permanent corrective actions in low-volume, high-complexity environments.
- Communication: Exceptional ability to engage with technical experts, manage supplier relationships, and influence stakeholders across multiple functions.
- Travel: Able to travel for domestic and international travel (primarily within Europe) to supplier meetings up to 50% of your time.
- You must hold a UK passport for Security Clearance (SC) to be considered for this role and a full UK driving licence. Please note we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Desirable Qualifications
- Professional quality certification (e.g., ASQ CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt).
- Specific experience with MoD or other defence-related quality requirements.
- Previous experience in managing technical transfers or high-value NPI programs.
What We Offer
At GE Vernova, we invest in your long-term success and wellbeing through a comprehensive, flexible benefits package designed to support what matters most to you.
Our Total Reward offering includes competitive compensation, a performance-related bonus, flexible pension with a 10 % employers’ contribution, employer-funded private health insurance, income protection, and life assurance. We support your time to recharge with 26 days of holiday, plus bank holidays.
Our 'Flex Choice' programme, you can take advantage of corporate benefits such as buying and selling holiday, a cycle-to-work scheme, financial planning, critical illness insurance, personal accident cover, dental cover, option to add family to a private health scheme, and travel insurance.
Why Join Us?
Join us at a pivotal time as we modernise our manufacturing capability and shape the future of quality across our Rugby operation. This is an opportunity to influence strategy, lead meaningful change, strengthen digital capability, and make a lasting impact on the performance, reliability, and integrity of products used in critical applications worldwide.
Additional Information
Relocation Assistance Provided: No