Quality Engineer

Gooch & Housego

15d • Onsite

About The Position

Join a Global Photonics Leader Engineering Solutions from the Deep Ocean to Outer Space! G&H (Gooch & Housego) Torquay is part of a world-renowned photonics group with over 30 years of high-tech manufacturing heritage in the region. Our Torquay facility designs and manufactures advanced fibre-optic components, modules and sub-systems used in telecommunications, sensing, biomedical imaging, defence, aerospace, industrial systems and more. Our products are trusted in some of the most demanding environments on Earth, and beyond, including undersea networks, space missions, and even the International Space Station. We are also proud recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for our flagship FibreQ technology, used globally in advanced laser systems for metrology and materials processing. As part of the EPIC (Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre) community, you’ll work within a thriving hi-tech cluster, surrounded by cutting-edge R&D capability, a strong local supply chain, and a collaborative network of engineering and photonics specialists in Torbay. This is your opportunity to help shape the next chapter of quality excellence in a business where precision, innovation and reliability are core to everything we do. Following the successful delivery of a mature AS9100 Management System, we are now accelerating our shift toward proactive, embedded quality across the business. As a Quality Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening our processes, supporting customer confidence, and enabling the continued growth of our advanced photonics product portfolio. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a technical, fast-moving environment and wants to influence quality at every stage; from supplier performance to customer satisfaction.

Requirements

• Strong auditing capability across suppliers, processes and business systems
• Solid understanding of root cause analysis and preventive action
• Customer-focused mindset with a sense of urgency
• Proven experience delivering Continuous Improvement projects
• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma (essential)
• Experience in AS9100 or ISO13485 environments
• Experience participating in MRB processes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Self-driven and able to set your own priorities
• Emotionally intelligent with a constructive, challenging mindset
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills
• Excellent communicator, influencer and facilitator
• Possess a strong background in engineering or quality assurance, exceptional attention to detail, and a proactive mindset.
• Sound knowledge of quality management systems and tools, including Proficient in using quality analysis and improvement tools such as FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis), FTA (Fault Tree Analysis), 8D or A3 problem solving techniques.
• Sound data analysis and processing abilities.
• Sound problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Engineering degree preferred (not essential)
• Internal or Lead Auditor qualification (AS9100 or ISO9001) preferred
• Ideally, experience in optical, photonics or high-tech manufacturing
• Six Sigma, and SPC (Statistical Process Control) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal audits across business and manufacturing processes to identify risks and drive mitigation.
• Support customer and third-party audits, ensuring we maintain our reputation for world-class quality.
• Oversee and conduct First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs).
• Monitor product compliance and process repeatability to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality photonic components.
• Analyse key quality metrics (Product Returns, Shipped Product Quality Level, CoPQ) to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Apply structured problem-solving tools to eliminate root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to support strategic quality initiatives.
• Act as a customer-facing quality partner, ensuring issues are managed professionally from initiation to closure.
• Work closely with Supplier Quality Engineering and Supply Chain teams to resolve supplier-related issues and strengthen incoming quality.
• Provide quality input into contract reviews, engineering changes and documentation updates.
• Support multi-functional continuous improvement projects across the business.
• Coordinate concessions/permits and drive initiatives to reduce their frequency.
• Chair MRB meetings and mentor colleagues in quality best practice.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) - rising up to 30 days annual leave (phased with long service)
• Corporate Cash Plan
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level