Quality Improvement & Capability Manager
£48,200
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2482 is an eligible occupation, but we are only 51% sure that is the right code. MBDA UK Limited is a licensed sponsor, so if the code fits, the role should qualify. Check the occupation eligibility rules against what the job actually involves.
This could also be SOC 2481 (Quality control and planning engineers). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2482 Quality assurance and regulatory professionals Most likely code | £33,800 Clears | £38,600 Clears | £43,400 Clears | £48,200 Clears |
2481 Quality control and planning engineers Also possible | £33,400 Clears | £33,400 Clears | £37,500 Clears | £41,700 Clears |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. A mark is for the top of the advertised pay. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
A Quality Improvement and Capability Manager (APQP Focus) is needed to drive a proactive, "right-first-time" culture, bridging the gap between design and manufacturing in a leading defence organisation.
Salary: Circa £60,000 depending on experience
Dynamic (hybrid) working: 3 days per week on-site due to workload classification
Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship.
Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.
What we can offer you:
- Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 21% of base salary
- Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
- Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
- Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
- Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
- Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.
The opportunity:
Operating within the Quality Excellence function, you will lead the shift toward a proactive, "right-first-time" culture. We are looking for a coach and facilitator to tackle complex challenges, using FMEA and DMAIC methodologies to empower our teams and ensure zero-defect excellence across our entire product portfolio. This is a genuinely exciting chance for a determined individual to drive real change while pursuing their own career growth.
As a time-served Quality professional, you will bridge the gap between product design and world-class manufacturing. You will own the Product Risk Mitigation strategy—utilising DFMEA to 'design out' failures, PFMEAs/Control Plans to ensure operational excellence, and DMAIC cycles to drive continuous improvement in production yields. Your goal is simple: zero-defect product launches built on a foundation of proactive quality and robust process controls.
Day to day focus:
- Risk Mitigation: Facilitate workshops and coach cross-functional teams on DFMEA and PFMEA best practices to ensure design and process risks are identified and eliminated early in the project lifecycle.
- Design-to-Production Link: Guide the seamless transfer of "Special Characteristics" and Severity ratings from design intent into practical, robust manufacturing Control Plans and realistic measurement methods.
- Process Stability & Coaching: Mentor teams through DMAIC cycles to stabilise production, improve yields, and reduce variation from the launch phase throughout the entire product lifecycle using MSA and SPC.
- Problem Solving & Lessons Learned: Lead advanced problem-solving frameworks (FRACAS, 8D) and coach teams to feed root-cause findings back into FMEAs and Control Plans, maintaining them as "living documents."
- Standards & Audit Compliance: Act as the Quality Excellence subject matter expert for risk-related audits, ensuring strict compliance with EN9100, ISO 9001, AS9145 (APQP/PPAP), and applicable Defence/Military standards (Def Stan / MIL-STD).
- Engineering Prioritisation: Utilise Action Priority (AP) logic to help engineering teams objectively prioritise engineering changes, risk mitigations, and validation testing for high-risk items.
What we are looking for:
- Professional Experience: Proven experience in a mission-critical, regulated sector (Defence, Aerospace, or Automotive) with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and mentoring staff through phase-gate deployment.
Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given
MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.
We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…
We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.
Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with MBDA UK Limited, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Quality assurance and regulatory professionals (SOC 2482) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~137k in sample- Middle half £39,520–66,040
- Median £49,504
- Going rate £48,200
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £33,800–43,400
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at MBDA UK LimitedAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. MBDA UK Limited holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2482 going rate of £48,200. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.