Quality Assurance Improvement Engineer

Job description

Quality Assurance Improvement Engineer

Airbus Defence and Space Portsmouth

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016, it generated revenues of € 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe's number one space enterprise and the world's second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Our people work with passion and determination to make the world a more connected, safer and smarter place. Taking pride in our work, we draw on each other's expertise and experience to achieve excellence. Our diversity and teamwork culture propel us to accomplish the extraordinary - on the ground, in the sky and in space.

Description of the job

A vacancy for a Quality Assurance Improvement Engineer has arisen within Airbus Defence & Space in Portsmouth.

The successful applicant will join Manufacturing MAIT.

Main activities:

 Develop, lead & manage improvement projects and work packages for Production Quality,
 Support the department in developing and deploying Continuous improvement Strategy in collaboration with MAIT to develop a continuous improvement culture ,
 Manage local requirements and support by acting as a the Production Quality improvements focal point,
 Provide general support and coordination to ensure successful deployment and stabilisation of improvements,
 Exercise strict control of improvement projects costs and human resources levels, ensuring that projects milestones are achieved within the cost profiles, ensuring manpower resources are adequate, and reporting project schedule, costs and deliverables on a monthly basis,
 Capitalize learnings from improvement initiatives for knowledge retention,
 Encourage and promote the use of Lean / Continuous Improvement philosophy in the business,
 Contribute to the Production Quality & MAIT Lean network and develop links with other sites to share information and ideas.

Detailed activities:

 Develop business cases for changes and improvement against local requirements,
 Provide inputs to the definition of the Production Quality improvement Strategy,
 Develop, manage and lead improvement projects providing regular progress and cost reports to the management team,
 Provide Training on new concepts resulting from Production Quality improvement initiatives,
 Support and coordinate improvement project deployment and stabilization on a day-to-day basis,
 Develop and deploy the Production Quality Improvements Communication plan both internally and externally,
 Support any cross-site, trans-functional and trans-national improvement actions,
 Provide reports as required by functional and project management,
 Provide monthly report of Quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on improvement initiatives.

Desired profile

Tasks & accountabilities

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

 Previous experience within the Space, Military or Aerospace sector preferably in an Engineering/Manufacturing position,
 Previous relevant experience as a change agent (internal or external) with application of Lean tools and principles,
 Understand the overall business process to enable the right improvement actions to be initiated,
 Able to demonstrate the use of robust Project Management tools and techniques,
 Able to demonstrate the use of Lean Sigma approach to identify and eliminate inefficiencies,
 Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.),
 Understanding of Knowledge Management philosophy, methods and tools would be an advantage.

Required skills

 Be customer focused, by engaging and integrating well with MAIT and other business stakeholders in order to understand current issues and deliver related improvements,
 Comfortable to work at all levels of the organisation,
 Lead by example,
 Energetic, Assertive and able to think on his/her feet and adapt behaviour appropriately to resolve conflict successfully,
 Excellent communicator (both written and oral) and listener with strong influencing skills,
 Good interpersonal skills and the ability to expedite tasks in a firm and diplomatic manner,
 Ability to challenge the status quo whilst convincingly inspiring and motivating end-users to change,
 Ability to exercise appropriate discretion/ manage commercially sensitive data,
 Facilitation skills,
 Reporting skills,
 Organised, practical and logical in work approach,
 Flexibility to travel within the UK and Europe when required.
 Knowledge of Space Quality standards,
 Lean, continuous improvement qualifications, Green or Black belt would be desirable.

 Degree or equivalent in an Engineering related discipline or HND with proven experience in a similar role,
 Green Belt Qualification preferable.