Job Description:

Quality Control Inspector

Location: Farnborough, Surrey
Contract: 6-Month Contract (Likely Extension)
Hours: 37 Hours Per Week, Full-Time Onsite
Pay Rate: £23.39 PAYE or £31.29 Umbrella per Hour

Join AALTO and Help Shape the Future of Aerospace

AALTO is pioneering a new frontier in aviation: Stratospace. An Airbus subsidiary based in Farnborough, AALTO designs, manufactures and operates Zephyr, a solar-powered High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) capable of flying continuously in the stratosphere for months at a time.

Operating above conventional air traffic and below low-Earth orbit, Zephyr enables transformative capabilities including direct-to-device connectivity, environmental monitoring, disaster response, border surveillance and high-resolution Earth observation.

As our programmes continue to grow, we are looking for a talented Quality Control Inspector to join our Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) team. If you are passionate about quality, thrive in a manufacturing environment and want to contribute to groundbreaking aerospace technology, we'd love to hear from you.

The Opportunity
As a Quality Control Inspector, you will play a vital role in ensuring our products, processes and assemblies meet the highest quality standards throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. Working closely with technicians, engineers and team leaders, you will provide quality expertise, support critical decision-making and help maintain compliance across all AIT activities.
This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative organisation at the forefront of aerospace technology while further developing your career within a highly skilled and collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities
You will:

• Provide quality control expertise and technical guidance to manufacturing and AIT teams.
• Support technicians and stakeholders in assessing incidents and determining appropriate quality actions.
• Advise team leaders on quality matters and compliance requirements.
• Review work instructions for technical accuracy and quality compliance, supporting corrections where required.
• Assess engineering drawings and documentation to ensure adherence to standards.
• Verify quality inspection coverage within work instructions and assist in addressing any gaps.
• Conduct routine patrol inspections of documentation, hardware and manufacturing activities.
• Monitor process adherence and workshop standards, including cleanliness, tool calibration and controlled working practices.
• Verify training records and support compliance with competency and skill matrix requirements.
• Carry out spot checks and process audits to maintain quality assurance standards.
• Exercise authority to stop work where quality requirements are not being met.
• Support the management of non-conformances, Occurrence Reports (ORs) and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders to support quality investigations and resolutions.
• Inspect supplier-delivered parts and assemblies to ensure compliance with specifications and standards.

What We're Looking For
We're keen to hear from candidates who can demonstrate:

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in quality control, inspection or a related discipline.
• Strong track record of working within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience inspecting electro-mechanical, mechanical or composite assemblies.
• Aerospace industry experience or experience gained within a highly regulated engineering environment.
• Knowledge of patrol auditing, shop-floor inspections and process compliance activities.
• Experience of quality reporting and non-conformance management processes.
• Strong attention to detail with the confidence to challenge quality concerns and drive corrective actions.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A proactive and collaborative approach.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Commitment to maintaining the highest quality and safety standards.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

Why Join AALTO?

• Be part of a pioneering aerospace organisation backed by Airbus.
• Work on world-leading stratospheric technology with real-world global impact.
• Join a highly skilled and passionate team driving innovation in a rapidly developing sector.
• Gain exposure to cutting-edge manufacturing and quality processes.
• Opportunity to contribute to programmes that influence connectivity, environmental monitoring and future aerospace capabilities.

Additional Information

• Location: Farnborough, Surrey (Onsite)
• Contract Length: Initial 6-month contract with potential extension
• Security Clearance: BPSS+ clearance (completed by AALTO Security)
• Right to Work: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
• Interview Process: Two stages (Virtual interview followed by onsite interview)

AALTO is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of background, identity or experience.

Ready to help unlock Stratospace? Apply today and be part of the future of aerospace.

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.