Product Quality Manager

The Product Quality Manager is a senior leadership role within the Design Authority accountable for defining and delivering the Product Quality Strategy for the STEP fusion programme. Reporting to the Head of Engineering Assurance the role provides programme and regulatory confidence that products are safe fitforpurpose certifiable and perform as intended across the full lifecyclefrom concept and design through manufacture delivery and operation.

STEP is a firstofakind highconsequence engineering programme comparable in complexity and risk profile to advanced nuclear and space this environment quality must be engineered in from the outset; opportunities to recover from poor quality postdeployment are extremely limited. The Product Quality Manager therefore sets the vision strategy and governance for achieving performancedriven quality in the presence of technical uncertainty novel technologies and evolving standards.

Acting as the Design Authoritys focal point for product assurance the role ensures that the Engineering Management System (EMS) quality frameworks and certification approaches enable safe reliable and highquality outcomes at scale. The postholder will engage directly with regulators notified bodies partners and independent assurance organisations to build confidence in STEPs technical evidence base and delivery approach.

Key Accountabilities:

Product Quality Strategy & Capability

• Define and deliver the STEP Product Quality Strategy aligned to Design Authority expectations regulatory requirements and engineering priorities.
• Set the approach for achieving fitforpurpose performancedriven quality in a firstofakind fusion environment with evolving standards.
• Drive consistent application of quality principles across engineering and the supply chain.
• Establish expectations for structured quality and reliability methods including design risk analysis (e.g. FMEA DFMEA FTA) and structured problemsolving (e.g. RCA 8D DMAIC).
• Build and lead a highperforming Product Quality function embedding capability leadership depth and continuous improvement.

Engineering Management System Assurance

• Provide confidence that the Engineering Management System (EMS) and governance enable safe reliable and highquality outcomes.
• Define and implement a riskproportionate assurance framework for a firstofakind programme.
• Oversee independent assurance activities including audits readiness reviews and compliance assessments.
• Ensure assurance insights and operational feedback drive continuous improvement of engineering processes.

Certification & Conformity Leadership

• Define and deliver the product certification and conformity strategy for regulated systems.
• Oversee certification activities including UKCA conformity evidence essential requirements and technical file integrity.
• Embed certification pathways within engineering workflows and lifecycle decisionmaking.
• Lead engagement with regulators notified bodies and assurance partners providing confidence in novel technologies and approaches.

Product & Design Risk Management

• Lead the identification assessment and management of product quality risks across the engineering lifecycle.
• Establish a structured riskinformed quality risk management approach integrated with Design Authority decisionmaking.
• Ensure alignment with safety security reliability and environmental risk frameworks.
• Facilitate risk workshops and drive mitigation actions to closure.

Leadership & Culture

• Act as a senior Design Authority leader influencing quality outcomes across engineering supply chain and partners.
• Champion a culture where quality is engineered in reflecting the highconsequence nature of deployed systems.
• Rolemodel UKIFS and STEP values the Seven Principles of Public Life and inclusive leadership behaviours.
• Promote curiosity evidencebased decisionmaking and effective problemsolving within complex technical environments.

Qualifications :

Essential: 

• Degree Level Science or Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience). 

• Chartered member with relevant institution. 

• Strong understanding of engineering principles and product lifecycle management. 

• In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and applicable standards (e.g. ISO9001). 

• Experience leading product certification and conformity assessment activities including managing UKCArelevant evidence technical files and engagement with regulators or notified bodies. 

• Ability to identify assess and mitigate technical and quality risks while enable innovation. 

• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex technical interfaces. 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. 

Beneficial:

• Track record of creative problem solving in ambiguous or innovative environments. 

• Experience of the full lifecycle for technically complex plant systems within major programmes. 

Additional Information :

We welcome applications from under-represented groups particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team supported by our Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis for example changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications. We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organisation.

We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time