Hardware Quality Engineer

Level: 4
Salary band: £50,000- £62,000
Bonus: 8% performance-based, discretionary
Location: Hybrid – work in our London office a minimum of 2x/wk

We are looking for a Hardware Quality Engineer whose mission is to be the driving force behind quality across all our hardware products, ensuring they meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and compliance. You will take ownership of inspection, auditing, and continuous improvement processes, working closely with suppliers, internal teams, and customers to identify and resolve issues before they impact performance. By embedding robust quality practices into every stage of the product lifecycle, you will play a critical role in ensuring the success of our Automata LINQ Bench system and supporting hardware, enabling scientists to trust our solutions in their most important work.

Why is the role important for Automata?

Hardware quality is critical to delivering safe, compliant, and reliable products to our life sciences customers, where even small defects can have a significant impact on research outcomes. At Automata, our reputation depends on every product leaving our doors performing flawlessly in demanding, high-stakes environments. This role ensures that quality is built into every stage of the product lifecycle, from supplier engagement to customer delivery, so our customers can focus on their science with complete confidence in our hardware.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Carry out hands-on hardware goods-in inspections for electrical and mechanical components, using appropriate measuring tools and visual inspection methods to verify quality.
• Define and maintain inspection criteria for both internal checks and external supplier FATs, ensuring they are practical, measurable, and traceable.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, personally engaging in technical vetting and follow-up on non-conformances.
• Lead and facilitate quality and ECR meetings, ensuring actions are tracked and closed.
• Directly perform root cause analysis of quality issues, working with engineers and suppliers to develop and implement corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).
• Drive ISO 9001 preparation, including performing internal audits and maintaining quality documentation.
• Identify, test, and implement process improvements that strengthen traceability, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Provide proactive, practical support to the Hardware and Customer Success teams to ensure development and issue resolution follow ISO 9001-aligned processes.
• Physically inspect, document, and process feedback from the field, working closely with Customer Success to triage issues, track post-launch problems, and trigger ECRs when necessary.

What it takes:

• Degree or HND in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline. Or equivalent industry experience in a hardware quality, manufacturing, or NPI role.
• Proven experience in manufacturing quality, production support, or NPI engineering.
• Comfortable working with both suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and hardware-focused quality management systems.
• Strong problem-solving mindset, with practical experience in root cause analysis and CAPA.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills

Nice to haves:

• Experience with life sciences or regulated industry products.
• Knowledge of FMEA, PPAP, or other advanced quality tools.
• Familiarity with electrical and mechanical inspection methods.
• Experience conducting or preparing for external audits.
• Quality management certification (e.g. Six Sigma, ISO 9001 Auditor)

UK Team Benefits:

🍎 Vitality Health Insurance

Private healthcare that incentives a healthy lifestyle

👀 Eye Care

Get your eyes tested once a year on us!

🚗 Salary Sacrifice – EV

Sacrifice some of your monthly salary in exchange for a company car, provided by your Employer

🚲 Salary Sacrifice – Bike & Tech

Sacrifice some of your monthly salary in exchange for bike and tech products, provided by your Employer

🧘🏼‍♀️ Wellbeing & Support

Support for both your physical and mental health

☀️ Wellbeing & Development Allowance

Invest in your own well-being, personal growth, and hobbies

💙 Spill & Employee Assistance Programme

Access the therapy for you and your family through Spill

😊 Additional Leave

Time off for dependents, ‘Me days’, and volunteering days off

👵🏼 Pension Scheme

Plan for retirement with NEST

🫂 Group Life & Critical Illness cover

Life insurance – for a piece of mind

🎂 Birthday

Time off for your Birthday