Product Assurance Engineer

Location: Bristol OR Stevenage (1 day per week onsite)

Duration: 12 month initial contract

Inside IR35

Role details:
Our client, operating in the defence and aerospace sector, is currently seeking a skilled Product Assurance Engineer to join their team on a 12-month contract. You will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and compliance of products in a highly regulated industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership in Bid Work & Quality Planning (QP)-

Lead quality assurance input into bid and proposal work, ensuring product assurance requirements are considered from the outset.
Develop and maintain Quality Plans (QP) aligned with AQAP 2105, tailoring them to the needs of each R&D project.
Work closely with engineering, programme management, and commercial teams to define achievable quality objectives and constraints during bidding.
Ensure that quality, compliance, and risk management strategies are embedded in the bid phase to mitigate potential project risks early.

Risk-Based Product Assurance & Decision-Making-

Champion a risk-based approach to product assurance, supporting R&D teams in making informed decisions about acceptable risks.
Facilitate risk identification workshops, employing methodologies such as FMEA, DFMEA.
Guide engineering teams in making trade-off decisions between innovation, compliance, and acceptable risk levels.
Ensure that risk management activities are properly documented and aligned with contractual and regulatory expectations.

Design & Development Assurance -

Ensure compliance with AQAP 2105, leading quality and assurance activities throughout the R&D lifecycle.
Conduct Design Assurance Reviews, ensuring requirements verification and validation against defence standards.
Drive independent quality assessments to challenge and validate design assumptions, safety margins, and performance criteria.
Support the definition and execution of verification and validation (V&V) plans, ensuring product reliability and functional integrity.

Cross-Functional Engagement & Governance -

Act as the primary quality interface between R&D, programme management, safety, regulatory compliance, and customers.
Provide independent assurance to senior stakeholders, ensuring that product development aligns with quality and risk expectations.
Ensure robust configuration and change management processes to maintain product integrity and traceability throughout development.
Prepare and present product assurance reports, risk registers, and compliance evidence to internal stakeholders.

Supplier & Customer Assurance -

Engage with suppliers and subcontractors to ensure their deliverables align with the Quality Plan (QP) and risk expectations.
Support customer audits, contract reviews, and regulatory assessments, ensuring product assurance compliance.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives, enhancing risk management, assurance processes, and collaboration across teams.

What we are looking for in you:

Experience in quality assurance, particularly within the defence or aerospace sectors.
Understanding of AQAP 2105, DEF STANs, AS9100D, and other relevant defence/quality assurance regulations.
Proficiency in developing and implementing Quality Plans (QP).
Expertise in risk assessment methodologies (e.g., FMEA, DFMEA) to drive informed decision-making.
Knowledge of verification and validation (V&V) processes.
Experience in configuration and change management.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to influence and provide independent assurance to senior stakeholders.
Exciting opportunities await a driven Product Assurance Engineer who is eager to contribute to high-stakes defence and aerospace projects. If you meet these requirements, apply now to join our client's dynamic team in either Stevenage or Bristol