Quality Assurance

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: Band D (S1) £44,982 per annum.
Hours: Full-Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (2 years)
Location: UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh

Come and work on the kind of projects that made you want to work in STEM. The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) is the UK’s national centre for leading-edge astronomical instrumentation and systems. We design and build instrumentation for world-leading astronomy facilities in space and on the ground. Here you will work alongside world-leading scientists, engineers and technologists to develop and build leading-edge scientific instruments.

We have a friendly and flexible work environment, on a beautiful site combining the historic Royal Observatory Edinburgh architecture with a high-tech engineering facility including modern laboratories and cleanrooms.

We are currently seeking a Quality Engineer (QA) to support the development and delivery of a key subsystem for the world’s first space based gravitational wave observatory. Core to the role is ensuring that the project deliverable items, which include space flight hardware and associated documentation, conform to the agreed quality standards. There may also be scope to engage with other projects at the UKATC.

Specifically, you will be responsible for:

• Implement quality control processes and procedures, with particular focus on Assembly, Integration and Test of flight hardware
• Conduct thorough quality inspections on both incoming and outgoing hardware
• Ensure adherence of built products to processes and applicable standards including European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) requirements.
• Document creation and formatting, proper archive usage including accurate Metadata entry, application of the Configuration Management process
• Change Request processes, Configuration Item Data List (CIDL) management, Review document submissions, drawing management.
• Non-conformance management
• Ensure process adherence in line with in-house and project quality standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support process improvements

Person Specification

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a STEM subject, or a strong record of equivalent professional development.
• An understanding of manufacturing drawings, specifications, and instructions, with a working knowledge of engineering standards (ideally ECSS or ISO).
• Knowledge and experience of quality management, quality control methods and tools, gained within a formal quality management system meeting the requirements of ECSS, ISO or industry equivalent
• Knowledge and experience of configuration management and/or change management within a structured engineering system.
• Good people skills including organising own work, and overseeing the work of others
• Experience of creating technical work and reviewing the work produced by other people to defined requirements and/or the review of Project or Product conformance documentation.
• Experience of continuous improvement methods and activities.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.