Quality Engineer

The Role

Peterborough – 12 month fixed term contract with the potential of permanent  

As a Senior Quality Engineer, you will play a key role in ensuring that customer expectations and contractual quality requirements are fully met across a range of engineering projects. You will lead and coordinate all quality assurance activities for your allocated contracts, ensuring that components, documentation and processes meet both customer and Howden Turbo UK (HTO) standards. 

Alongside contract delivery, you will contribute to the development and continual improvement of the HTO Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring it remains compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and relevant customer-specific standards. This is a visible, hands-on role that interacts with senior management, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and external verification bodies. 

Who are we?

Howden has a range of compressors, blowers, fans, steam turbines, and rotary heat exchangers, and has been at the forefront of developing engineered solutions for the needs of industrial processes since 1854. In 2023, Howden joined forces with Chart Industries, a global leader in engineered equipment for clean energy and industrial gas markets. 

Together, we operate over 64 manufacturing sites and 50+ service centres worldwide, with 11,700+ employees driving innovation in hydrogen, carbon capture, energy recovery, nuclear, water treatment, mining, and LNG. As part of the Nexus of Clean™, we are advancing a sustainable future - helping customers improve efficiency and reduce emissions across clean power, water, food, and industrial sectors. 

Join us and be part of a purpose-driven team shaping the future and tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, all while growing your career in a dynamic global environment. 

What you will do

Contract Quality Leadership 

• Lead all contractual quality activities to support on-time, compliant delivery. 
• Produce and manage contract quality plans/Inspection and Test Plans (ITP) that reflect customer specifications and HTO requirements. 
• Investigate and resolve quality issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are implemented. 
• Ensure delivered components meet specification and have the correct test certification. 
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of final quality documentation. 
• Supervise and mentor Quality Technicians and QC Inspectors. 

Quality Management System & Auditing 

• Maintain and improve the company’s QMS to ensure ongoing certification to ISO 9001/14001/45001. 
• Support compliance with customer-specific standards (e.g., Rolls-Royce GS3001). 
• Lead internal, customer and third-party audits, including witness and hold points. 
• Work cross-functionally to ensure quality systems meet contractual and regulatory requirements. 

Supplier Quality & External Interfaces 

• Support supplier approval, auditing and performance improvement activities. 
• Conduct supplier site inspections and build proactive relationships to strengthen supply chain quality. 
• Interface with external verification bodies such as DNV, Lloyds and ABS. 

Training, Communication & Continuous Improvement 

• Record, review and analysis root cause analysis for deviation and Cost of Poor Quality  
• Amend/develop and implement suitable process improvements to prevent reoccurrence of Quality deviations. 
• Continue to develop digitalisation of Quality documentation and measurement tools. 
• Provide expert guidance, training and mentoring on quality matters across the business. 
• Promote employee engagement in quality and drive a culture of continuous improvement. 
• Share best practices and lessons learned to prevent recurrence of issues. 
• Analyse data to support improvement initiatives and maintain schedules for quality activities. 

Project Planning & Execution 

• Plan, monitor and execute quality assurance activities to support compliant project delivery. 
• Ensure quality considerations are embedded into project execution from start to finish. 

What do you bring

An ideal candidate would likely have the following experience:

• Proven experience preparing structured quality documentation such as dossiers, manuals, ITPs, technical files or final documentation packs. 
• Experience implementing, managing and improving business management systems (Quality, HSE). 
• Auditor trained (ISO 9001) with experience of ISO 9001/14001/45001 audits. 
• Experience working with external verification bodies (DNV, Lloyds, ABS) and offshore standards (e.g. Brazilian NR). 
• Background in regulated sectors such as oil & gas, rotating equipment, aerospace, manufacturing, defence or similar. 
• Proactive, self-driven and able to take ownership of key quality outcomes. 
• Able to challenge constructively and influence at all levels of the organisation. 
• Strong communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. 
• Methodical approach to root cause analysis, problem solving and statistical interpretation. 

It would be beneficial but not essential to have the following: 

• Strong engineering background (HNC/HND or equivalent) in a relevant mechanical or manufacturing discipline. 
• Solid understanding of material and mechanical engineering standards, welding engineering and NDT methods. 
• Time-served engineering apprenticeship or equivalent. 
• Lead Auditor (ISO 9001) qualification. 
• Knowledge of H&S best practice. 
• Customer-facing experience in a project environment. 
• Experience with rotating equipment or oil & gas applications. 

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Howden more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you. 

Our Benefits

• Generous holiday entitlement package totalling 33 days annual leave 
• Howden Pension Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 7% 
• Company electric vehicle scheme through salary sacrifice 
• Free onsite parking 
• Healthcare cash plan 
• Group Life Assurance plan at 3x salary
• Access to My Howden Benefits & Wellbeing Portal - Cycle2Work programme, range of discounts across various retailers, employee assistance programme, wealth of information to support health & wellbeing 
• Dedicated Spark Service - free counselling, physiotherapy, financial support, medical second opinion, remote GP, personal training, nutrition consultations etc  
• Financial planning & mortgage support 
• Opportunity to be involved in our ESG ‘Bright Future’ initiatives - STEM ambassador & volunteering

Howden is an equal opportunity employer

The Company intention in respect of recruitment, selection and promotion is to appoint the most suitable candidate for each job regardless of that person’s race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.