Supplier Quality Engineer (Inside IR35)

Contract - Supplier Quality Engineer (Inside IR35)
Location - Stafford

• Recruiting for a Project Quality engineer to to support the delivery of a major  HVDC transmission project executed under an EPC framework.
• This role ensures that engineering, procurement, manufacturing, civil works, installation, and commissioning activities meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• This person will be a key interface between the EPC contractor, suppliers, site teams, and project leadership, driving a consistent and proactive quality culture across all phases.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and implement the Project Quality Plan, Inspection & Test Plans, and project‑specific quality procedures aligned with EPC contractual requirements.
• Oversee quality assurance and control activities for converter stations, HV equipment, civil works, mechanical installations, and HVDC control & protection systems, ensuring compliance with technical specifications and IEC/EN standards.
• Conduct supplier and subcontractor audits, verifying adherence to EPC quality obligations, manufacturing standards, and site execution requirements.
• Lead the Non‑Conformance Report (NCR) process, ensuring timely investigation, structured root‑cause analysis, effective corrective/preventive actions, and robust closure.
• Manage a structured Lessons Learned programme, capturing insights from NCRs, audits, site issues, commissioning findings, and contractor performance, and ensuring these are embedded into ongoing and future project phases.
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), civil and mechanical inspections, and commissioning quality activities, ensuring documentation is complete, traceable, and contractually compliant.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning teams to embed quality into design reviews, supplier selection, site execution, and handover processes.
• Monitor and report quality KPIs, trends, and risks to project leadership, enabling proactive mitigation and continuous improvement across the EPC delivery chain.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in quality engineering within large and complex and safety critical projects.
• Strong understanding of ISO 9001, EPC quality frameworks, and HVDC‑relevant IEC standards (Preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in NCR management, root‑cause analysis methodologies, and supplier/subcontractor quality oversight.
• Ability to drive structured Lessons Learned processes and influence multidisciplinary teams to adopt improvements.
• Strong communication, analytical, and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to work effectively across EPC contractor and client organisations.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.