Quality recruitment
Quality in an engineering business is root cause analysis and supplier quality management, in environments where ISO 9001, AS9100 or a sector-specific standard shapes how the job actually gets done.
Root cause analysis is what separates the strong candidates. Tracing a defect back to its source rather than treating the symptom is what stops it returning, and it is what we screen for.
What this covers
- Quality engineering
- Supplier quality
- Quality management (ISO 9001 / AS9100)
- NPI quality
- CAPA & root cause analysis
- Regulatory & compliance quality
Roles we place
What makes a strong Quality candidate
A strong quality candidate can walk through a specific defect or non-conformance they investigated: how they traced it to its root cause, what corrective action they put in place, and how they confirmed it actually worked rather than just closing the paperwork. For regulated sectors, direct experience working to the relevant standard, AS9100 for aerospace and defence, ISO 13485 for medical devices, is close to essential, since the audit and documentation discipline these standards demand is difficult to fake convincingly in an interview. We also look for quality professionals who can influence engineering and manufacturing teams without direct authority over them, since quality's effectiveness in most businesses depends on collaboration rather than enforcement alone.
Where the talent sits
Quality roles are demand-driven by where regulated manufacturing sits in the UK - defence, aerospace and medical device clusters in particular carry the strictest requirements and the deepest specialist quality talent pools. These roles generally require regular on-site presence given the need for direct access to production lines and supplier facilities, though senior quality leadership roles increasingly allow more flexibility.
Typical hiring timeline
Most briefs get a first candidate within days rather than weeks - see real timelines from past searches. Seniority, location and clearance status set the pace from there.
Live Quality roles
Contract Quality Engineer
Essex · £40 – £50 per hour
Quality Assurance Manager
Hampshire · £55,000 – £65,000 per year
Quality Manager - Electronic products
Essex · £55,000 – £65,000 per year – £55,000 to £65,000 basic + benefits
Quality hiring: frequently asked questions
Hiring in Quality?
Tell us what the role needs to do. We'll come back with questions about the work, and an honest read on what the brief will take.