NPI Quality Lead

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE

This is a senior, hands-on role that owns quality delivery across New Product Introduction and major projects in a regulated, high-integrity manufacturing environment with a strong nuclear and safety focus. The role holder takes new products from feasibility through to production readiness, ensuring they are compliant and fully traceable.

LTi's NPI work is bespoke, low-volume and safety-critical: capability and integrity must be proven on small quantities, and every part matters. The role applies APQP and structured NPI disciplines to this high-integrity fabrication and requires the confidence to act as the quality authority in front of demanding, safety-driven customers.

The role holder builds and owns the NPI quality framework: authoring the control plans, procedures and quality gates each programme requires.

Judgement matters as much as technical skill: the role holder must hold the quality line under schedule and commercial pressure and carry a clear position both with the customer and internally.

Accreditation authority for the wider quality management system rests with the Engineering and Quality Manager.

KEY TASKS

Own NPI quality delivery across new product introduction and major projects, from feasibility through to production readiness

Act as the quality authority within cross-functional project teams

Drive APQP deliverables through the NPI stage gates

Author and maintain the NPI quality framework: control plans, FMEA and foreign material exclusion (FME) procedures, capability and inspection regimes, and the quality gates themselves

Assess the quality management system against customer requirements, conduct gap analysis, and author and implement the procedures needed to close any gaps

Support accreditation, safety and compliance

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must demonstrate direct, personal ownership of, and hands-on experience with:

Full APQP lifecycle leadership

Hands-on authoring of quality procedures and processes from first principles

NPI quality delivery from prototype through to production readiness

Non-conformance investigation, containment and corrective action

Internal, external and supplier audits

Core quality tools: FMEA, MSA, SPC and capability studies (Cp/Cpk)

Lifetime Records, lot traceability and material certification

Special processes such as welding, NDE or coatings

Knowing where engineering (design) control ends and manufacturing (process) control begins, and managing the interface between them

DESIRABLE SKILLS

Typically, eight or more years in quality engineering within regulated manufacturing, including demonstrable ownership of APQP and NPI quality delivery

Degree, HND or HNC in an engineering or related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience

ISO 9001 lead auditor qualification (desirable)

Chartered Quality Institute membership or Six Sigma certification (desirable)

REGULATORY AND SECTOR EXPERIENCE

Experience of NPI quality in a regulated, high-integrity sector (nuclear, defence, aerospace, pressure equipment or similar) is essential. Readiness to operate under a customer holding witness, hold and approval rights is expected; direct experience of doing so is an advantage.

The following are strongly desirable:

Nuclear or Sellafield supply-chain experience

Nuclear safety culture and CFSI (counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items) mitigation

Familiarity with structured production part approval (PPAP or equivalent)

Depth of experience and proven, hands-on ownership of NPI quality are essential.

MANDATORY RESPONSIBILITIES

All employees of LTi Metaltech and LTi Vessco are expected to promote and reflect the values of the business when representing the Company and in their dealings with colleagues, customers, suppliers and services alike and to operate in accordance with them.

All staff have the following responsibilities as Employees of LTi Metaltech Ltd., whereby they must:

Take responsibility for aspects of Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) over which they have control.

Adhere to the Company’s OH&S requirements (defined in OH&S policy, risk assessments, work instructions and through training, etc.).

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety as well as the safety of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Work in accordance with information and training provided.

Refrain from intentionally misusing or recklessly interfering with anything that has been provided for health and safety reasons.

Report any hazardous defects in plant and equipment, or shortcomings in the existing safety arrangements, to a responsible person without delay.

Not undertake any task for which authorisation and / or training has not been given.

To promote and maintain a culture of continued Risk Assessments.

COMPANY BENEFITS

25 days annual leave + BH’s (5 days more than statutory)

Salary Sacrifice pension scheme – matched contribution of up to 8%

Private Healthcare (AXA)

Healthcare Cash Plan (Healthshield)

Bonus scheme

Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Sick pay

Cycle to work scheme

Company social events