Cramlington
Salary: £45k + 10% KPI Bonus

A hands-on Quality Engineer with strong experience in electronics manufacturing, supporting product and process quality across the full lifecycle - from development and verification through production and final testing. Skilled in quality assurance, problem-solving, audits, and continuous improvement, with experience guiding a small quality team or supporting technicians on the shop floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Support maintenance and improvement of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Participate in internal and external audits (ISO, UL, customer).
• Maintain quality documentation including procedures, work instructions, and forms.
• Assist with updating QMS processes and supporting risk-based thinking.
• Carry out quality checks for: Incoming inspection, SMT and THT processes, manual/automated assembly, electrical and functional testing, final product release
• Ensure quality controls are in place during NPI and production.
• Review process changes and deviation requests.
• Support implementation of control plans and ESD protection measures.
• Perform in-process and final inspections.
• Maintain sampling plans and inspection criteria (AQL/risk-based).
• Support calibration management for inspection and measurement equipment.
• Carry out incoming quality control for components and materials.
• Assist with supplier non-conformance investigations and returns.
• Support root cause analysis and follow up on corrective actions with suppliers.
• Conduct scheduled internal audits across production, documentation, and processes.
• Ensure findings are logged, tracked, and closed in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to quality technicians/operators.
• Assist with training quality processes and raising quality awareness on the shop floor.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving activities (5 Whys, Fishbone, 8D).
• Support projects that reduce scrap, rework, and process variation.
• Utilise statistical tools (SPC, Minitab) for monitoring trends and variation.
• Analyse KPIs such as PPM, scrap, rework, and defect rate.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, IPC standards, UL requirements.
• Competent with Microsoft Office, SPC tools, Minitab, and ERP/MES systems.
• Practical, hands-on understanding of electronics manufacturing processes (SMT/THT).
• Clear communicator, able to work effectively with operators, engineers, and suppliers.
• Strong analytical mindset, organised, and detail-focused.

Certifications (Advantageous)

• Six Sigma Green Belt
• ISO 9001 Internal/Lead Auditor
• IPC-A-610 / IPC-J-STD-001
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)