Key accountabilities:

As a Senior NPI Parts/Supplier Quality Engineer you will be responsible for the quality of purchase parts, from concept to series production for the suppliers and projects you are assigned. Working alone, as part of a team or leading a small team on designated projects, traveling in the UK and overseas your key objectives will include:
Auditing suppliers and contributing to the process
Supplier Quality Assurance activities within the supply chain including:  PPAP, and surveillance visits leading to series launch.
Creating and managing customer quality requirements that can be cascaded to the supply chain.
Generating goods receiving inspection documents for pre-production and production phases
Series process and part approval at product launch
Working closely with procurement, design, and system engineers to achieve parts that are cost effective, fit for purpose and to the required quality standard.
Supplier improvement activities, including problem resolution of parts quality issues using 8D and other automotive industry tools.
Management of supplier quality performance, including verification and implementation of corrective actions in the pre-series phase
Managing the parts quality implications of product and process changes
Reporting status against project targets internally and customer facing
Supervising and coaching of the SQA Engineering team also deployed on these projects.
Actively participating in continuous improvement by developing and introducing new quality focussed processes and procedures to Ricardo

Additional/special features of the role:

Own, complete, report out and handover to operations any CI projects assigned to you.
Maintain an active shop-floor presence promoting and encouraging lean principles.
Reporting back and reacting to manufacturing issues from production and ad hoc meetings.
Work alongside operations and M.E to ensure smooth transition to production.
Working alongside all other functions in for new projects.
Actively assist all CI team members in closing projects on time.
Support all Ricardo functions to ensure RFT goals are met.
Identify potential improvement activities with the best outcome for MTC and PP in mind (big picture).
Support Operations with day-to-day issue resolution.
Mentor and engage with operators to encourage an improvement culture.
Maintain a Teamwork approach and actively share knowledge with peers.
Liaise with Quality Engineers to ensure improvements to our Total Cost of Quality, On Time in Full, delivery and other KPI’s.
Act on key manufacturing performance metrics.
Knowledge of niche volume manufacturing environment.
Lean manufacturing skills, 8D, 5 Why and 6 sigma knowledge.
Data analysis skills would be advantageous.
Experience of machining a wide range of precision components with complex routings and multiple operations.

Essential technical and professional skills, knowledge and qualification:

Experience of NPI and/or Supplier Quality Assurance or a similar role where skills can be transferred into the objectives described above. Preferably gained within the automotive sector but other industries would be considered.

Knowledge of automotive technology and product development
Lead Auditor trained to ISO 9001 and or IATF 16949
Knowledge of IATF 16949
Hands-on experience of lean manufacturing & six sigma
Demonstrates the highest integrity and ethical values in dealing with clients, suppliers, and colleagues.
Ability to self-manage and demonstrate resilience/robustness when working to challenging targets.

Desirable technical and professional skills, knowledge and qualification:

Achieving PPAP
Experience with various manufacturing processes and components (e.g., casting, machining, moulding, assembly, fabrications) and measurement techniques
Experience and understanding of geometric design & tolerancing.
Excellent problem-solving skills
Experience of quality systems, quality tools & techniques
The ability to work as a team or on your own and be self-motivated.
A good communicator with intercultural and interpersonal skills together with the ability to communicate and present effectively to suppliers and clients at all levels.
Experienced user of Microsoft office
Tenacity, resilience, and focus
Flexibility to support regular travel to suppliers/customers domestic & internationally (including EU and USA) and holder of a driving licence.
Engineering degree or equivalent experience