Principal Quality Assurance Engineer

Leonardo Worldwide Corporation; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company in Edinburgh is seeking a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer to drive quality throughout the product development lifecycle. This role requires experience in quality engineering, particularly in aerospace or defence, and offers a supportive hybrid work environment. You'll guide APQP methodologies and ensure compliance with industry standards like AS9100 and ISO 9001.

Benefits

Generous leave and flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Access to mental health support

Online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace or defence industries preferred.
• Strong background in APQP and quality planning.
• Familiarity with AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards.

Responsibilities

• Guide the integration of APQP methodologies.
• Conduct internal and external audits.
• Embed quality considerations in project planning.

Skills

Experience in quality engineering

Proficiency in quality tools

Collaborative mindset

Understanding of Software Quality Assurance

Job description

Overview

Leonardo Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Job Description As a Principal Quality Assurance Engineer you will help drive quality throughout the product development lifecycle, lead the adoption of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and collaborate across disciplines to ensure solutions meet the highest industry standards.

Your Impact

• Guide the integration of APQP methodologies across all project phases to support a culture of quality and continuous improvement.
• Ensure quality deliverables at early project stages to support effective decision-making and risk management.
• Act as a trusted partner on quality-related matters, ensuring open communication and alignment with expectations.
• Compliance with applicable aerospace and defence quality standards and regulations (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001).
• Work closely with engineering, design, and program teams to embed quality considerations into project planning and execution.
• Conduct internal and external audits to assess quality system effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Align with international colleagues to ensure consistency in global quality standards and share best practices.
• Contribute to the implementation of effective Software Quality Assurance (SQA) processes, particularly in Agile environments.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in quality engineering, preferably in aerospace or defence industries.
• Strong background in APQP and quality planning across product development cycles.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and standards such as AS9100 and ISO 9001.
• Proficiency in quality tools including root cause analysis, risk assessment, and NPI processes.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to lead or mentor others in quality practices.
• Understanding of Software Quality Assurance processes and Agile development methodologies.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit https //careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you\u2019re looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location
GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type
Permanent

Hybrid Working
Hybrid

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• Computer and Network Security