Senior NPI Quality Engineer

Location: Swansea
Salary: £45-50k
Type: Permanent

We are working with an innovative, high-tech manufacturing business that designs and manufactures electronic and electro-mechanical products for international markets.

They are looking for a Senior NPI Quality Engineer to take ownership of quality throughout the New Product Introduction (NPI) lifecycle, from initial design and development through to production release.

This is a hands-on role with a particularly strong focus on electronics and PCBA manufacturing, working closely with R&D, Electronics Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and external suppliers.

The Role

You will play a key role in ensuring new electronic products and manufacturing processes are robust, capable and ready for volume production.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the complete APQP/PPAP process from design through to production
• Own NPI quality activities including DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC and FAIRs
• Work closely with Electronics, R&D and Design Engineering to identify and mitigate quality risks
• Ensure PCBA and electronic manufacturing processes are robust and suitably controlled
• Provide hands-on quality leadership during prototype and pre-production builds
• Support the introduction and validation of new electronic components, PCBAs and manufacturing processes
• Work with suppliers to ensure electronic components and assemblies meet PPAP and quality requirements
• Review supplier documentation, support supplier audits and drive corrective actions
• Lead investigations into NPI and early-production quality issues
• Use structured root cause analysis, CAPA and DMAIC to resolve quality problems
• Represent Quality within cross-functional NPI and engineering project teams
• Lead ECN reviews and assess quality risks associated with engineering changes
• Develop quality instructions, specifications, inspection requirements and visual standards
• Ensure lessons learned from existing production and market issues are incorporated into new product development
• Maintain accurate APQP/PPAP documentation
• Identify and mitigate product, process and supply-chain risks throughout NPI
• Drive continuous improvement across NPI, APQP and PPAP processes
• Ensure products and production parts meet relevant quality and regulatory requirements

About You

We are looking for a Senior Quality/NPI Engineer with a strong electronics manufacturing background.

You should have proven experience working with electronic products and PCBA manufacturing, combined with strong knowledge of NPI and APQP/PPAP.

Ideally, you will have:

• Proven hands-on experience managing APQP/PPAP through the NPI lifecycle
• Strong background in electronics manufacturing / PCBA
• Experience with electronic assemblies, components and PCB manufacturing processes
• Experience taking electronic products from prototype into volume production
• Strong knowledge of DFMEA, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP, DMAIC and CAPA
• Experience working closely with Electronics, R&D, Design and Manufacturing Engineering
• Supplier quality and supplier management experience
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive, organised and methodical approach
• Confidence to challenge issues constructively and drive corrective action

Desirable

• Experience within medical devices, automotive, aerospace or another regulated/high-tech manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of ISO 13485 and/or FDA requirements
• Six Sigma qualification
• Experience with injection moulding, pressing or other complementary manufacturing processes

Qualifications

• Degree, HNC or HND in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or Quality Management
• Relevant Quality, APQP or PPAP qualifications would be advantageous