MERITUS are recruiting for a Chief Quality Inspector to join our Precision Manufacturing client in their growing quality team in a permanent role.

CHIEF QUALITY INSPECTOR - £NEG - BASILDON, ESSEX - 1 STAGE INTERVIEW PROCESS - SECTOR: PRECISION MANUFACTURING - AEROSPACE COMPONENTS

An established and rapidly growing precision manufacturing company is continuing to strengthen its Quality team following sustained growth across aerospace, defence and commercial engineering programmes.

As new projects continue to be secured and production expands, they're looking to welcome an experienced Chief Quality Inspector / Senior Quality Inspector to join the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working closely with production teams, takes pride in maintaining exceptional quality standards, and wants to play a key leadership role in delivering precision-engineered components for highly regulated industries.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Quality Manager, you'll be responsible for leading the day-to-day inspection function across the business, acting as the technical bridge between Quality Management and the shop-floor inspection team.

This is a practical, hands-on inspection role where you'll spend time on the shop floor, working alongside production teams and inspectors to ensure components meet the highest quality standards before progressing through manufacture.

You'll provide technical leadership within the quality department, supporting and mentoring inspectors while using your experience to make informed inspection decisions, resolve technical challenges and drive continuous improvement.

What You'll Be Doing

• Carrying out first-off, in-process and final inspections of precision-machined components.
• Completing batch control and inspection sign-off activities.
• Reading and interpreting third-angle engineering drawings, dimensions and tolerances.
• Programming and operating CMM equipment to support inspection activities across the business.
• Using a range of conventionalmetrology equipment, including:
  • Height gauges
  • Internal and external micrometers
  • Intrimics / ball micrometers
  • Slip gauges
  • Verniers and associated inspection equipment
• Providing technical support and guidance to Quality Inspectors and production teams.
• Acting as the key link between the inspection team and the Quality Manager.
• Supporting quality investigations, non-conformance resolution and root-cause activities.
• Working closely with production teams to resolve inspection-related queries.
• Helping to maintain high quality standards within aerospace and defence manufacturing.
• Identifying non-conformances and ensuring components meet specification before release.
• Supporting the continued development of inspection processes, standards and best practice across the department.

What We're Looking ForEssential

• Previous experience as a Senior Quality Inspector, Chief Inspector, Quality Inspector or Quality Technician.
• Strong understanding of precision machining inspection processes.
• Experience programming and operating CMM equipment.
• Ability to confidently read and interpret third-angle engineering drawings.
• Experience using conventional metrology equipment.
• Experience supporting, mentoring or leading inspection teams.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with production, engineering and quality management teams.
• Comfortable working independently while supporting a wider production and quality function.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high quality standards.

Desirable

• Experience using PC-DMIS, Zeiss, MCOSMOS or similar CMM software.
• Previous aerospace or defence manufacturing experience.
• Experience inspecting complex precision-machined components.
• Previous experience acting as a technical lead, senior inspector or team supervisor.
• Understanding of root-cause investigation and continuous improvement activities.

Why Join?

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a growing engineering business where quality is genuinely valued.

You'll be joining an experienced team and stepping into a position where you'll have real influence over the inspection function, acting as the technical link between the Quality Manager and the wider inspection team.

You'll work on interesting aerospace, defence and commercial engineering programmes while helping shape the future growth and capability of the quality department.