Customer Quality Engineer

• Customer Quality Engineer (CQE)

38 p / h

37 hours per week

This role is inside IR35 and will be contracted via an umbrella company.

We are seeking a Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) to support several upcoming NPI programs over the next 18-24 months at a customer's facility in Wolverhampton. The role will focus on customer-facing APQP and coordinating quality activities across internal teams and the internal supply chain. Aerospace defence experience is beneficial, but candidates from automotive or other APQP-driven industries are strongly encouraged.

Act as the primary interface for customer-facing APQP, representing the organisation at customer reviews, quality gates, and technical meetings.

Coordinate all APQP activities across the NPI lifecycle, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and internal programme milestones.

Support the development, review, and maintenance of APQP deliverables including PFMEA, Control Plans, process flows, PPAP elements, and associated documentation.

Communicate quality status, risks, issues, and readiness clearly across internal engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.

Work with internal supply chain to ensure process readiness, capability, and compliance with customer expectations prior to production launch.

Drive timely issue resolution using structured problem‑solving methods (8D, 5‑Why, Ishikawa), ensuring containment, corrective actions, and effective verification.

Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities within NPI and APQP processes.

Minimum 5 years' experience as a Quality Engineer in aerospace / defence, automotive, or other high‑reliability industries.

Proven experience delivering customer‑facing APQP as a core part of the role.

Strong working knowledge of APQP tools and methods, including FMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and PPAP.

Demonstrated ability to lead quality discussions with customers and internal cross‑functional teams.

Effective communication, problem‑solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Familiarity with AS9145, AS9100, and NPI / industrialisation frameworks.

Experience working closely with internal supply chain, engineering, and manufacturing teams.