QUALITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGER

About ISS Aerospace 

ISS Aerospace designs and manufactures uncrewed systems for defence and national security. From our base in Chieveley, Berkshire, we build the aerial and land platforms, launchers and payloads that give operators a decisive edge, and we do it as a proud British manufacturer. Quality and safety are central to everything we deliver, and we are looking for the person who will own and strengthen both. 

The role 

We are looking for a Quality and Assurance Manager to own and mature our quality management system and to lead safety assurance across our uncrewed air systems work. This is a broad, hands-on role that brings quality and safety together under one owner. 

On the quality side, you will own our ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, certified with BSI, keeping the business audit-ready, driving continuous improvement, and raising the bar on product and supplier quality across the full lifecycle. 

On the assurance side, you will own our Safety Management System and lead safety oversight across our operations, in line with military airworthiness good practice. 

What you will do 

Quality management 

• Own, maintain and continuously improve the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, keeping the company audit-ready at all times. 

• Plan and lead the internal audit programme, and manage external certification and customer audits. 

• Drive non-conformance management and root cause corrective action (8D, 5 Whys), and lead continuous improvement across production and engineering. 

• Lead supplier quality: approval, monitoring, and first-article inspection. 

• Own quality documentation, process control, and configuration and traceability across the product lifecycle. 

• Report quality performance and KPIs to leadership. 

• Support the company’s progression towards AS9100 and any customer, NATO (AQAP) or Def Stan quality requirements as programmes demand. 

Safety and assurance 

• Run the Safety Management System and act as the organisation’s focal point for safety. 

• Maintain the hazard register and risk assessments, coordinate occurrence investigations, and track corrective actions to closure. 

• Administer the safety reporting system and sustain a healthy, just-culture reporting environment. 

• Manage the safety audit programme, prepare safety performance reports, and escalate to the Accountable Manager as required. 

What you will bring 

• Proven experience as a Quality Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Quality Lead or Senior Quality Engineer in a manufacturing or engineering environment, ideally aerospace, defence or another regulated, safety-critical sector. 

• Strong, hands-on knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and direct ownership of a quality management system. 

• A recognised auditor qualification (CQI/IRCA ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or equivalent) and experience running internal and external audits. 

• Practical command of quality tools: root cause analysis and corrective action, non-conformance management, and continuous improvement. 

• A confident communicator who can influence across production, engineering and leadership, and hold the line on quality and safety. 

• Eligibility for UK Security Check (SC) clearance. 

Nice to have 

• CQI membership at Practitioner or Chartered level (PCQI or CQP MCQI). 

• AS9100 (aerospace and defence) knowledge or AS9100 Lead Auditor training, and familiarity with AQAP 2110/2310 or Def Stan quality requirements. 

• Experience of Safety Management Systems or military airworthiness (MAA and Regulatory Articles), and a safety qualification such as NEBOSH. 

• Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt), APQP, FMEA, PPAP, or First Article Inspection (AS9102). 

• Experience of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. 

• A degree in engineering or a related discipline. 

• Experience in an SME, comfortable being hands-on across the whole system. 

Eligibility and clearance 

• You must have the right to work in the UK. 

• This role requires eligibility for UK Security Check (SC) clearance, which generally requires several years of continuous UK residency. Existing clearance is an advantage. 

• Some project work may carry additional nationality or clearance requirements. 

What we offer 

• A rare chance to own both quality and safety assurance for a growing British defence-technology manufacturer, with real authority and visibility to senior leadership. 

• The scope to shape systems and set standards, rather than inherit someone else’s. 

• Investment in your development, including quality and auditor certifications and safety training. 

• Competitive salary, pension and holiday allowance. 

How to apply 

Ready to make an impact? Send your CV and a short covering note to careers@issaerospace.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn. We review every application and will be in touch if there is a good fit.