Lead Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Title: Supplier Quality Lead – Containment & Supplier Recovery

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

Engagement: Contract (Inside IR35)

Pay: £33-£36 / hr DOE

Sector: Automotive – High Performance / Low Volume

Reporting: Supplier Quality & Dev. Senior Manager

 

Role Overview

We are seeking a Supplier Quality Lead to manage and develop a team of Junior Supplier Quality Engineers responsible for supplier containment, controlled shipping, and supplier recovery activities across a portfolio of underperforming suppliers.

This is a player-manager role, combining direct ownership of critical supplier quality issues with leadership of a team supporting containment and corrective action activities. The successful candidate will be responsible for protecting manufacturing operations, driving supplier performance improvements, ensuring effective deployment of team resources, and delivering measurable reductions in supplier-related disruption.

The role requires strong leadership capability alongside hands-on technical expertise in supplier quality, containment management, root cause investigation, and supplier development.

Key Responsibilities

·       Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4–6 Junior Supplier Quality Engineers.

·       Prioritise and allocate supplier quality activities based on business risk and programme requirements.

·       Act as the escalation point for critical supplier quality, containment, and recovery issues.

·       Oversee deployment and management of CSL1 and CSL2 activities across the supplier base.

·       Ensure robust containment plans are implemented to protect manufacturing from quality escapes.

·       Review and approve containment exit criteria, corrective actions, and recovery plans.

·       Drive suppliers to complete effective root cause analysis and corrective actions using 8D, 5 Why, and structured problem-solving methodologies.

·       Monitor supplier performance through PPM, quality escapes, disruption events, corrective action closure, and containment effectiveness.

·       Provide regular reporting to senior management on supplier risk, quality performance, and recovery progress.

·       Support customer protection activities and rapid response to emerging quality concerns.

·       Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, Supplier Development, and Programme teams to minimise disruption and improve supplier performance.

·       Manage third-party sorting and containment providers where required.

 

Essential Requirements

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

·       Minimum 7 years' experience in Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or Supplier Quality Assurance within automotive or advanced manufacturing.

·       Proven experience leading supplier containment and recovery activities, including CSL1 and CSL2.

·       Previous experience leading, coaching, or coordinating SQE teams.

·       Strong working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, GD&T, 8D, and Root Cause Analysis.

·       Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supplier quality management.

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

·       Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure manufacturing environment.

Desirable Requirements

·       Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.

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

·       Experience leading supplier audits and supplier improvement programmes.

·       Knowledge of machining, composites, assembly, castings, or complex engineered products.

Personal Attributes

·       Strong leader with a hands-on approach.

·       Results-focused with high levels of ownership and accountability.

·       Decisive and confident managing supplier escalations.

·       Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.

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

This role is ideally suited to a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer or Supplier Quality Manager who can balance team leadership with direct involvement in critical supplier quality, containment, and recovery activities.

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.