Requirements
The role calls for quality engineering experience in regulated manufacturing, with hands-on expertise in APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, First Article Inspection, and structured nonconformance and CAPA methods. Candidates should understand electrical assembly workmanship, special processes, NDT, drawings and GD&T, measurement systems, audit-ready documentation, ISO 9001, and be able to meet BPSS requirements.
Job Description
SYOS designs and manufactures advanced uncrewed systems across air, land, sea and subsurface. We combine intelligent engineering, AI-driven autonomy and innovative design to create next-generation vehicles operating in some of the world's most challenging environments. Our mission is to extend human capability, protect people and deliver operational advantage through accessible, scalable and intelligent autonomous technology.
This is an opportunity to help establish production quality processes from the ground up, ensuring our manufacturing operations meet the highest standards as we scale.
About The Role
As Quality Engineer, you'll take ownership of production quality engineering across our in-house manufacturing operations, including wire harness manufacture, composite structures, electronics, engine and fuel system assembly and testing, and final integration.
You'll apply Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles throughout the production lifecycle, from initial process development through to steady-state manufacturing. Working closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Supply Chain and Engineering, you'll establish robust quality controls, support product approvals and ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet engineering and customer requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
- Apply APQP principles in line with EN 9145 or equivalent, facilitate PFMEA reviews and develop Control Plans that link identified risks to appropriate inspection and detection controls.
- Manage internal PPAP for in-house manufactured parts and assemblies and coordinate First Article Inspection to EN 9102 for new parts, production cells and engineering changes.
- Establish in-process inspection requirements, maintain the Special Process Register and support qualification of processes such as crimping, bonding, composite curing and leak testing.
- Own production nonconformances, containment, root cause investigations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), ensuring issues are resolved at their source.
- Review and accept Factory Acceptance Test and engine acceptance test records, verify inspection results and ensure the required quality evidence is complete before release.
- Establish traceability and serialisation requirements, maintain build records and calibration systems, and ensure quality documentation is accurate, complete and ready for customer audits.
- Review work instructions and engineering changes for quality impact, train operators in inspection and defect recognition, and work with Production, Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain to improve quality performance.
We're looking for a Quality Engineer with experience in regulated manufacturing who can take ownership of production quality processes and confidently support manufacturing teams. You'll ideally have:
- Quality engineering experience within aerospace, defence, automotive or another regulated manufacturing environment, particularly complex assembly.
- Hands-on experience with APQP and PPAP, including facilitating PFMEA reviews, authoring Control Plans and managing approval processes.
- Experience with First Article Inspection, ideally to EN/AS 9102.
- Proven experience managing nonconformances, root cause analysis and CAPA using structured methods such as 8D, 5 Whys or Ishikawa.
- Knowledge of electrical assembly workmanship standards, particularly IPC/WHMA-A-620, including the ability to identify non-conforming crimps.
- Understanding of special process controls and non-destructive testing (NDT) requirements.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, measurement techniques and Measurement System Analysis (MSA).
- Strong documentation and traceability practices, with the ability to maintain records that stand up to customer audits.
- Competence in ISO 9001 quality management principles.
- Ability to meet Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) requirements.
- Aerospace, defence or uncrewed systems manufacturing experience.
- Familiarity with AS9100, AQAP 2110 or AQAP 2310.
- IPC-A-610 or other electronics workmanship standards.
- Quality experience with composite structures, engines or propulsion system assembly and testing.
- NDT qualifications or experience working with NDT suppliers.
- Experience with new facility start-ups, production line qualification or manufacturing ramp-up.
- A CQI, CQE or equivalent quality qualification.
This is an opportunity to help establish the production quality function at a growing UK manufacturing facility, playing a key role in ensuring our products are built to the standards required for reliable, high-performance autonomous systems. You'll work alongside engineers, manufacturing specialists and production teams across a range of complex technologies, helping turn innovative designs into safe, consistent and repeatable manufacturing outcomes.
At SYOS, we value integrity, collaboration, delivery and continuous improvement. We want people who take ownership, challenge constructively and have the confidence to make decisions that protect product quality.
If you're a Quality Engineer who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges and making a tangible impact on production performance, we'd love to hear from you.
Skills
About SYOS Aerospace
SYOS is a rapidly growing uncrewed systems technology company tackling real-world challenges across air, land, sea and subsurface domains. We design and manufacture a multi-domain portfolio of advanced, uncrewed, autonomous systems engineered for mission readiness, reliability and the best cost to capability in the market. Built to perform in remote environments, high-risk scenarios or everyday operations our vehicles enable defence, civil and commercial organisations to work smarter, safer and with greater capability. Our expertise spans autonomous hardware, mission‑critical uncrewed technologies and AI‑enabled autonomy, and we are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). Combining world-class engineering and proven AI-driven autonomy, we operate with agile design, lean manufacturing and rapid innovation - with a relentless focus on Minimum Viable Capability. Working shoulder to shoulder with customers and end users, shaping solutions informed by real-world evidence and validated in the harshest conditions. SYOS is dual headquartered in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with a proven international footprint. Our R&D, manufacturing and production sites are based in UK and NZ, with an operational and support presence in Ukraine.
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