Quality Assurance for Engineering
Engineering environments place high demands on quality, consistency and compliance. QAagency specialises in recruiting Quality Assurance professionals for engineering businesses across the UK, supporting organisations where product performance, safety and regulatory compliance are central to commercial success.
Quality Assurance roles within engineering typically operate across mechanical engineering, precision manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and complex assembly environments. These roles are closely tied to production and engineering activity, with responsibilities covering inspection, testing, investigation and system control. Most positions are site-based due to the need for direct engagement with processes and products, although some roles include hybrid working where system ownership or supplier quality activity allows.
QA professionals in engineering settings usually report into a Quality Manager, Technical Manager or Operations Director. The role focuses on preventing defects, supporting audits and driving corrective action, working closely with engineering and production teams to improve process capability and maintain compliance with customer, certification and regulatory requirements.
Roles we recruit for within engineering QA
We recruit across a broad range of Quality Assurance roles within engineering environments.
This includes Quality Technicians and Quality Testers responsible for inspection, testing and verification of components and assemblies, as well as Quality Engineers focused on root cause analysis, CAPA ownership and process improvement.
At a more senior level, we recruit Quality Managers and Compliance Auditors who oversee quality systems, lead audits and ensure engineering operations remain compliant with customer, certification and regulatory requirements.
2026 salary insight: engineering QA roles
Based on QAagency 2026 salary benchmarking, average UK salaries for Quality Assurance roles within engineering are:
Quality Technician: £29,600
Quality Tester: £28,200
Quality Engineer: £38,200
Senior Quality Engineer: £50,300
Quality Manager: £60,400
Salary progression within engineering QA is influenced by the complexity of the product, level of regulatory exposure and responsibility for audits or customer-facing quality activity. Roles involving aerospace standards, automotive frameworks or high-precision manufacturing typically sit above the UK average.
Data based on QAagency 2026 salary benchmarking.
Market and hiring trends
Demand for engineering QA professionals has remained strong, driven by continued investment in manufacturing capability, tighter tolerance requirements and increased customer scrutiny.
Between 2025 and 2026, salaries for engineering-based Quality Engineers increased by approximately 3.8% to 4.2%, with senior engineering QA roles seeing closer to 4.5% growth. Over a five-year period, engineering QA salaries are up by around 20–28%, reflecting the growing technical and regulatory burden placed on quality functions.
Automation and advanced manufacturing continue to shape hiring. Employers are increasingly seeking QA professionals who understand SPC, data-driven quality tools and process capability analysis rather than purely inspection-based control.
There is also a noticeable shift towards prevention over detection. Engineering businesses are placing greater emphasis on QA professionals who can influence design reviews, manufacturing methods and supplier selection rather than operating only at final inspection stage.
Location and salary variation
London and the South East continue to offer the highest engineering QA salaries, typically sitting around 10–15% above the UK average, particularly in aerospace, advanced manufacturing and high-value engineering environments.
Other regions such as the Midlands and North West have seen steady five-year growth of around 22–25% for engineering QA roles, supported by strong manufacturing clusters and ongoing investment. In these regions, salary variation is increasingly driven by product complexity and audit exposure rather than location alone.