The posting
With over 100 years of engineering excellence, Ridgway Machines is a world-leading manufacturer of precision taping and winding machines for the electrical, energy, and oil & gas industries. Recently acquired by Tokamak Energy to accelerate superconducting technology, we're involved in some of the world's most exciting engineering projects—including ITER's Fusion Power Plant and CERN's Large Hadron Collider.
From innovative designs to global customer support, we deliver expert solutions for clients worldwide. Based at Meridian Business Park in Leicester, we're a skilled team of specialist engineers working at the cutting edge of power generation machinery.
Make a direct impact on quality performance across complex engineering and low-volume, high-value manufacturing projects
We are looking for a Quality Engineer to join our growing Quality team, reporting to the Quality Manager.
This is a hands-on role that will play a key part in driving right-first-time delivery, reducing quality issues, improving supplier performance and strengthening quality processes across the full machine lifecycle.
As the business continues to grow, this newly created position will provide additional quality engineering capability across our projects. The successful candidate will take ownership of day-to-day quality activities, ensuring products, processes and suppliers consistently meet customer, engineering and regulatory requirements while supporting wider continuous improvement initiatives.
A significant aspect of the role is working within a low-volume, high-value manufacturing environment, where many components and fabrications are sourced from specialist suppliers producing bespoke or small-batch parts. Quality issues can have substantial cost and programme implications, making supplier quality management a critical element of this position.
Working closely with Engineering, Project Management, Purchasing, Production, Machine Build and Installation teams, you will have the opportunity to influence quality standards across multiple functions and become a trusted technical partner throughout project delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain and continuously improve quality processes, procedures and systems.
- Support quality planning and inspection activities across design, fabrication, machining, assembly, testing and installation.
- Review engineering drawings, specifications and customer requirements from a quality perspective.
- Develop and maintain inspection and test plans.
- Carry out first-off, in-process and final inspections.
- Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and final machine release activities.
- Manage quality records, documentation and traceability requirements.
- Identify and mitigate quality risks throughout project execution.
- Support ISO 9001 compliance, quality plans, document control and calibration activities.
- Conduct internal, supplier, product and process audits.
- Manage internal and supplier non-conformances through to effective resolution.
- Lead and support root cause investigations using structured quality methodologies.
- Analyse quality performance data and produce meaningful KPI reporting.
- Work closely with suppliers to resolve quality concerns and improve performance.
- Develop strong working relationships with specialist and small-batch suppliers to ensure quality requirements are understood and achieved.
- Conduct supplier visits and source inspections for critical, bespoke or high-value fabrications and components.
- Support supplier approval and supplier development activities.
- Monitor supplier quality performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.
- Support risk-based quality planning for critical purchased components where quality failures could significantly impact cost, schedule or customer delivery.
- Support the investigation and resolution of customer quality issues.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce defects, rework, scrap and customer complaints.
What Success Looks Like
In this role, you will help the business to:
- Improve right-first-time performance.
- Resolve quality issues earlier in the process.
- Reduce repeat non-conformances.
- Improve supplier quality performance.
- Increase the effectiveness of corrective actions.
- Strengthen supplier engagement and accountability.
- Use quality data to drive measurable business improvements.
- Embed a proactive quality culture across the organisation.
Requirements
Essential
- Experience applying quality standards within an engineering or manufacturing environment involving fabricated, machined or assembled components.
- Experience working directly with suppliers to manage quality concerns, non-conformances and corrective actions.
- Experience within a low-volume, high-value or bespoke manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and practical quality management systems.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T and tolerances.
- Experience managing non-conformances and conducting structured root cause investigations.
- Understanding of inspection techniques, metrology, calibration and verification methods.
- Ability to analyse quality data and identify practical improvement opportunities.
- Experience conducting or supporting internal and supplier audits.
- Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality-related systems.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to supplier sites when required.
Desirable
- HNC, HND, Degree or Apprenticeship in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline.
- Quality and/or auditing qualifications.
- Experience with Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience working with specialist, bespoke or small-batch suppliers.
- Experience managing quality requirements for high-value fabrications, machined components or engineered assemblies.
- Experience within machinery manufacturing, capital equipment, aerospace, defence, nuclear, energy or other highly regulated engineering sectors.
- Knowledge of COSHH requirements, risk assessments, safe systems of work and hazard identification.
- Experience using quality tools such as 8D, 5 Why, APQP and FMEA.
- Awareness of CE/UKCA and machinery compliance requirements.
- Exposure to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
Benefits
- Salary range £40,000 to £50,000 dependent on skills and experience and will be discussed from the outset
- 37.5 hour working week, Friday finish at 1.30pm for production teams
- Free parking
- 25 days paid annual leave (includes 3 days for Christmas shut down) plus 8 days paid public holidays
- Company Bonus scheme
- Stakeholder Pension
- Family friendly policies
- Training and Personal Development
- Some onward International Travel Opportunities
- Complementary corporate work wear
- Relocation Assistance
Important information for candidates
Pre-employment screening
Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity and references.
Data privacy
Please note that any personal data submitted to Ridgway Machines as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation, for more information regarding GDPR please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation
Equality of opportunity
Entry into employment with Ridgway Machines and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We’re committed to building an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience.
If you have a disability or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know. We’re happy to make the necessary arrangements to ensure you can perform at your best.
