Engineering Quality Advisor

Job Description

BUSINESS FUNCTION: Engineering
SALARY: £46,295.00 per annum

GRADE: Fleet A Days
ROLE TYPE: On Site
LOCATION: Newton Heath TrainCare Centre
HOURS: 35 per week

We are looking for a Quality Advisor to join our Engineering team, playing a key role in ensuring compliance, continuous improvement, and quality assurance across Northern’s engineering operations. This hands-on role involves conducting audits, advising on quality matters, and driving process improvements to maintain the highest industry standards. If you have strong auditing skills, a keen eye for detail, and a passion for quality, this is a great opportunity to make a tangible impact on our operations.

What you'll be doing:

• Checking Our Standards and Keeping us on Track: Carrying out regular audits on engineering quality procedures to make sure everything runs efficiently and stays compliant. Ensuring we meet ISO 9001 standards and follow all company policies.
• Keeping Us on Track:
• Focusing on What Matters: Auditing key areas like train safety, maintenance work, safety-critical materials, and supplier performance.
• Reporting What You Find: Creating clear and detailed audit reports, pointing out any issues, sharing best practices, and suggesting areas for improvement.
• Continuous Improvement and Driving Improvement: Helping to build and track action plans to fix any problems found during audits. Championing continuous improvement projects and helping to keep us compliant with RISAS standards.
• Being the Go-To: Supporting external audits and acting as a key contact for auditors and stakeholders.
• Solving Problems: Investigating any quality issues and recommending the best steps to put things right.
• Working Together: Collaborating with teams across the business to strengthen our quality checks and compliance processes.

About You:

You’ll bring a proactive mindset and a passion for continuous improvement, along with strong organisational and problem-solving skills. Ideally, you’re a qualified Lead Auditor (ISO 9001) with a solid understanding of quality legislation and standards. Experience in railway vehicle engineering and maintenance is a bonus, but not essential.

You’re confident using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio, and can manage your workload independently while engaging effectively with teams across the business. If you don’t already hold a NEBOSH General Certificate, you’ll be willing to work towards it.

Here’s what we’d love you to bring to the table:

• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Good knowledge of quality legislation and relevant standards.
• Confidence using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• The ability to work independently and manage your workload effectively.
• Great interpersonal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders.
• A NEBOSH General Certificate – or a willingness to work towards it.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered..
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North - connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, after which rail quickly spread across the globe - and this year, we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back on the historic events that led us here, we also look towards the future as we move into the era of Great British Rail. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B - we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.