Lead Quality Assurance Engineer

Job Title\: Lead Quality Assurance Engineer

Location\: Barrow-In-Furness or Sheffield - Hybrid, (Occasional travel to the alternative site as and when required) additional travel at least once or twice a month within the UK or overseas, including India and USA to suppliers and other BAE sites

We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Referral Scheme\: £1000

Grade\: A

You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.

We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.

If you don’t feel you can talk to your line manager, you can contact your HRBP.

PLEASE NOTE\: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

Job Description\:

You’ll play a key role in driving quality excellence across advanced weapon systems programmes, supporting the development, manufacture and delivery of highly detailed defence products. Working across the full quality lifecycle, you’ll oversee quality planning, audits, risk assessment and continuous improvement activities, ensuring compliance with industry standards and business frameworks such as ISO quality systems.

Collaborating closely with supplier and project teams across multiple sites, you’ll help strengthen processes, improve performance and support successful programme delivery. This role offers exposure to strategic quality activities, leadership opportunities and the potential to grow into a Quality Manager position within an expanding and high-impact environment and training qualifications.

Core duties\:

• Guiding multi-faceted quality activities across the full lifecycle, ensuring compliance with quality systems, policies and standards
• Conducting supplier audits, supporting supplier performance, risk mitigation and adherence to industry requirements
• Overseeing non-conformance investigations and quality reviews, implementing preventative actions to improve operational performance
• Supporting continuous improvement strategies, promoting a Forward-thinking quality culture across projects, suppliers and manufacturing teams
• Maintaining quality documentation and reporting within business systems, ensuring accurate records and compliance across programmes

Essential Skills\:

• Qualified to HNC, HND or Degree level, or equivalent practical experience within quality environments
• Experience working in a quality-focused role, supporting compliance, audits and continuous improvement activities
• Demonstratable supplier audit experience, a formal audit qualification is desirable, with ample understanding of ISO 9001 quality standards and requirements
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP to oversee quality data, records and reporting processes
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma and risk mitigation techniques, with experience mentoring or supporting colleagues

The Platforms and Services sector, Weapon Systems

As part of BAE Systems Platforms and Services sector, Weapon Systems (UK) designs, develops, manufactures and supports artillery systems, naval guns, and provides engineering capability to the wider BAE Systems business. Our global reach brings our customers a depth and breadth of expertise that meet critical needs in the air, on land, and at sea. Our mission strives for us to be our customer’s trusted and affordable weapons provider, delivering enhanced effects on target and complete mission solutions. We are looking for innovation, commitment and drive to help define the future of Weapon Systems capabilities.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive\:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date\: 20th August 2026