Lead Auditor – QA/Test and Inspection in Ampthill, Bedfordshire

Lead Auditor - QA/Test and Inspection

Fixed Term - 6 months

£50,000 - £55,000 p/h pro rata

Ampthill - Bedfordshire

About the Role

To support the successful preparation and delivery of the AS9100 Rev D recertification audit by assessing current quality management systems, identifying gaps, and ensuring compliance across all business processes. The role will drive audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities within a dynamic defence engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities
Quality Management & Compliance

• Conduct detailed gap analysis between existing processes and AS9100 Rev D requirements
• Produce structured reports highlighting non-compliance areas and prioritised corrective actions
• Ensure all documentation and quality records meet regulatory and organisational standards

Audit Planning & Execution

• Develop and deliver internal audit schedules covering product, process, and management systems
• Create audit checklists aligned to AS9100 requirements
• Conduct audits through interviews, documentation reviews, and on-site observations
• Evaluate effectiveness and compliance of systems and processes

Non-Conformance & Corrective Action Management

• Raise, manage, and track Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs)
• Lead root cause analysis activities using recognised methodologies
• Define, implement, and verify corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs)
• Ensure timely closure and effectiveness of all corrective actions

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work collaboratively with process owners and operational teams to resolve findings
• Provide guidance on compliance requirements and quality standards
• Facilitate discussions to support implementation of improvements

Audit Readiness & Reporting

• Monitor and report progress against audit readiness plans
• Present audit status, risks, and improvement activities to senior management
• Support external audit preparation and execution

Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to ongoing quality improvements across manufacturing and engineering processes
• Support development and refinement of inspection, testing, and evaluation methods.

Required skills, qualifications and experience

• Strong working knowledge of AS9100 Revision D
• Proven experience as a Lead Auditor within a regulated environment
• Demonstrable experience in:

• Internal and external auditing

• Quality management systems in manufacturing/engineering

• Root cause analysis and CAPA processes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective stakeholder engagement and communication abilities

Desirable Skills

• Certification in Lean and/or Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience within the aerospace, defence, or complex engineering sectors.

Business Environment

Lockheed Martin (UK) Ampthill is a rapidly changing, dynamic part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation with both domestic and international customers. It consists of business areas focusing on Platform Integration, Ground Based Air Defence, Special Projects and Weapons, which provide a variety of products and services to the Ministry of Defence and other customers. We are looking for talented individuals to join the company, in return we offer an exciting and challenging career path and excellent work/life balance with a 4 day week (Mon-Thurs) and flexible working arrangements.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lockheed Martin is committed to upholding principles of equal opportunity, fostering a work environment that is aligned with our core values of integrity, respect, and exceptional performance. We recognize the importance of leveraging the unique talents and experiences of all our employees to drive innovation, deliver superior solutions, and maximize value for our customers. Our focus is on identifying the most qualified candidate for each role, regardless of their background. If you are interested in a position, we invite you to share how your skills and perspectives could bolster our team and encourage you to apply, even if you feel your qualifications do not fully meet all the job criteria outlined in our advertisement. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive for all individuals. We are prepared to accommodate reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed. If you require assistance or adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact .

Disclaimer

This vacancy is being advertised by Optamor Limited. Optamor is a specialist Recruitment Process Outsourcing provider. We provide a flexible full recruitment solution which takes care of all recruitment requirements from planning to on-boarding. Our specialist recruitment divisions cover the entire technical arena, including some of the most economically and strategically important industries in the UK and the world today. We will never send your CV without your permission.