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Explore our vision: Incredible, effortless recruitment
£35k-£50k
Typical base salary
12 wks
Replacement guarantee
Root-cause skill
Ask how they've traced a defect to its real cause and stopped it recurring.
Tools and standards
Match their quality tools and standards experience to yours.
Attention to detail
Quality lives in the detail. Screen for rigour and clear reporting.
How to run the hire
1. Define the scope
Be clear on products, standards and the quality challenges.
2. Score for problem-solving
Weight genuine root-cause ability over inspection alone.
3. Source and screen
Approach candidates with relevant standards and sector experience.
4. Test with a scenario
Give a recurring defect and hear how they'd investigate it.
5. Reference results
Confirm they reduced defects and improved quality.
Fees typically run 15-18% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.
Nothing is due until your hire starts.
Usually 4-8 weeks.
Standards and sector specifics are the main variables.
A Quality Engineer makes sure products and processes meet the required standard - through inspection, testing, root-cause analysis and corrective action.
They investigate defects, drive them out, and support the quality system on the ground.
A Quality Engineer is hands-on with products, defects and analysis. A Quality Manager owns the system, standards and team.
We scope which level your role sits at.
Try: Walk me through a defect you traced to root cause.
Which quality tools do you use?
Tell me about a supplier quality issue you resolved. and How do you report and escalate problems?
A range including automotive, aerospace-adjacent, medical devices, food and general manufacturing.
We match standards and sector to your requirement.
Tell us about your role and a specialist engineering recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.
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