Junior Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title: Junior Supplier Quality Engineer – Containment & Supplier Recovery

Location: Woking, Surrey (100% site-based)

Engagement: Contract (Inside IR35)

Pay: £26-£29 / hr DOE - (PAYE) £33-£34 (Umbrella)

Sector: Automotive – High Performance / Low Volume

Reporting: Supplier Quality & Dev. Senior Manager

 

Role Overview

We are recruiting a Supplier Quality Engineer to lead containment and supplier recovery activities across a portfolio of underperforming suppliers. The role is focused on protecting production through effective containment, driving supplier corrective actions, reducing quality escapes, and managing suppliers through to successful containment exit.

Working closely with suppliers, manufacturing, and quality teams, you will be responsible for identifying risk, implementing robust containment measures, and ensuring sustainable corrective actions are delivered.

Key Responsibilities

·       Manage the end-to-end Controlled Shipping (CSL1 and CSL2) process, from initiation through to containment exit approval.

·       Assess supplier performance, quality risks, and failure modes, implementing appropriate containment actions to protect manufacturing operations.

·       Develop and maintain containment standards, including visual, dimensional, and functional inspection requirements.

·       Create, implement, and control containment plans, inspection instructions, and acceptance criteria.

·       Monitor containment effectiveness using key metrics including PPM, defect trends, quality escapes, and audit findings.

·       Drive suppliers to complete robust root cause investigations using recognised methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why and Fishbone.

·       Coordinate and manage third-party sorting and inspection providers, including performance monitoring and cost control.

·       Escalate recurring quality issues, supplier non-performance, and ineffective corrective actions through appropriate quality and supplier management forums.

·       Provide regular reporting on containment status, supplier performance, risks, and recovery plans.

·       Support investigations and response activities related to customer complaints, supplier issues, and emerging quality concerns.

·       Work collaboratively with manufacturing, supplier development, and purchasing teams to minimise disruption and restore supplier performance.

Essential Requirements

·       Minimum 3 years' experience in Supplier Quality, Supplier Assurance, or Supplier Quality Engineering within an automotive manufacturing environment.

·       Demonstrable experience managing supplier containment activities, including CSL1 and CSL2 processes.

·       Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.

·       Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings and apply GD&T principles.

·       Solid understanding of: APQP, PPAP, PFMEA and Control Plans, 8D and structured problem solving, Root Cause Analysis methodologies

·       Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with native English or minimum C1 proficiency.

Desirable Requirements

·       Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement training.

·       Experience within OEM, motorsport, high-performance automotive, or Tier 1 manufacturing environments.

·       Knowledge of machining, composites, assembly, or advanced manufacturing processes.

·       Experience managing third-party containment and inspection providers.

Personal Attributes

·       Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

·       Proactive, hands-on approach to resolving quality issues.

·       Able to operate effectively under demanding programme and production timelines.

·       Strong analytical and decision-making capability.

·       Confident communicator capable of influencing suppliers and internal stakeholders at all levels.

This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced Supplier Quality Engineer with a strong background in supplier containment, controlled shipping, and supplier recovery who enjoys operating at the forefront of manufacturing quality and production protection.

G&P is a world-leading quality management services provider, supporting manufacturers in the automotive, defence, aerospace and industrial sectors, and their associated supply chains, to transform quality and efficiency levels.

With over 30 years of experience, we provide tailored solutions through senior management support and expert personnel from our dedicated talent division. Through our award-winning engineering, technical, inspection and talent services, we help businesses minimise risk, maximise performance and achieve operational excellence.

Operating from strategic hubs in six countries, we continue to grow across new sectors, always focused on eliminating disruptions and supporting our clients’ drive to zero defects.

G&P is an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.